After reaching the hottest day of the year so far with 32°C recorded on Tuesday 30th, thunderstorms are in store.

Thunderstorms are in the forecast from Wednesday night and into Thursday, bringing a risk of flash flooding following days of intense heat and high humidity.

From late on Wednesday night, an area of thunderstorms look to push up into central and southern England, with a particular focus on impacts across Kent and Sussex where conditions and impacts look to be worst.

The risk of thunderstorms looks to continue in these areas into Thursday morning, possibly making for a tricky commute as torrential downpours produce flash flooding, alongside frequent strikes of lightning, gusty winds and large-sized hail.

Through the day on Thursday the risk also looks to extend further north with more isolated thunderstorms possible, across south-west England, Wales and perhaps into parts of central and northern England too.

The storms could be fairly well-scattered however, so some areas may remain dry and not see these heavy downpours, with these expected to persist into Thursday evening, stretching into east Anglia too.

Where they do hit could be impactful, with very high rainfall rates and rainfall totals within just a few hours with up to 50 mm of rain possible in the south-east in a short space of time.