Thunderstorms are rolling across parts of the South West
Abigail Neep South West Regional News Reporter
18:37, 22 Jun 2026
Lightning strike in Fishponds captured this evening, June 22(Image: Submitted )
Thunderstorms are rolling across parts of the South West with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning.
The warning will be in place until 9pm tonight (Monday, June 22) as the forecast indicates frequent lightning strikes and heavy rain in the impacted regions.
The yellow alert was issued at 5.24pm today (Monday), with Met Office forecasters saying gusty winds, torrential rain, frequent lighting and in places, hail, will hit parts of the south west tonight.
Affected regions include Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire. Lightning strikes have already been captured on camera in Bristol this evening.
Forecasters at the Met Office add that driving conditions will likely be affected by spray, standing water and or hail, leading to longer journey times.
It is possible there may be a delay to train services and some short term loss of power may also occur.
Flooding to homes and businesses may also be a risk.
The privately-supported research body TORRO (The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation) has also warned of a small risk of a tornado as the stormy weather hits the region. It said: “Thunderstorms are developing in Devon and Somerset, moving ENE broadly, and are expected to affect parts of Wales, as well as Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, over the coming hours. Associated risks of large hail, strong wind gusts and a small risk of a tornado with these.”
A spokesperson for The Met Office said: “An area of thunderstorms moving east across the area will bring a spell of frequent lightning, gusty winds, torrential rain, and a few places, hail.
“The storms will be moving quickly reducing the potential for widespread large amounts of rain, but there is a few places could see 20-25 mm of rainfall in a short period in the most active storms, which could bring some brief flooding.
“The majority of impacts are likely to come from other hazards however, such as lightning striking buildings and causing power cuts, difficult driving conditions in heavy rain, and some localised damage to vulnerable structures by strong wind gusts or hail.”
The yellow warning is also in place for parts of East of England, London and South East England
