Thunderstorm warning map shows where downpours will hit this weekend

Thunderstorms and lightning are set to batter large parts of England and Wales this weekend.

The storms will come with up to 70mm of rainfall within a few hours, and follow this week's spell of dry, warm weather.

The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings for Friday and Saturday, saying damage to buildings as a result of lightning strikes, disruption to public transport and flooding should be expected within the affected areas.

Friday’s alert covers most of south-west England, parts of Wales, the Midlands and west London and is in place from 12pm until 8pm.

The second warning is in place all of Saturday from 1am and covers all of Wales and south-west England, the Midlands and parts of south-east England.

The weather service has warned hail and frequent lightning could accompany thunderstorms and heavy showers and that up to 70mm of rain could fall in the worst affected areas on Saturday.

Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said on Thursday: “We are being spoiled by almost summer’s last hurrah, but there’s a bit of a change coming down the line as we move our way through towards Friday, and especially the weekend.”

Read more: Met Office criticises ‘utter rubbish’ Mirror story over ‘shut the curtains’ warning (Yahoo News UK)

Here, Yahoo News UK breaks down what the weather will be like for each region of the UK over the coming days, according to the Met Office's short-term forecasts.

London and the South-East

• Friday

Low cloud will soon break up to give some bright or warm sunny spells during the day. Chance of further heavy and thundery showers breaking out in the afternoon. Breezy. Maximum temperature 24C.

• Saturday to Monday

Brighter on Saturday but an increasing risk of heavy showers, perhaps thundery. Rain, heavy at times, for some on Sunday. Further rain, perhaps heavy, on Monday. Temperatures above average.

South-West

• Friday

A cloudy start. Sunny spells breaking through by the afternoon though accompanied by a risk of scattered, heavy and possibly thundery showers. Feeling warm. Maximum temperature 20C.

• Saturday to Monday

Mostly unsettled over the weekend and next week with heavy, possibly thundery showers and longer spells of rain at times, mixed with sunnier intervals. Feeling warm and humid.

Midlands

• Friday

East Midlands: Low cloud and hill fog will burn back to the coast first thing, with some bright or warm sunny spells developing. Chance of some heavy showers breaking out later. Breezy. Maximum temperature 21C.

West Midlands: A cloudy start though sunny spells breaking through by the afternoon. A risk of scattered showers later, these possibly turning heavy and thundery. Feeling warm. Maximum temperature 19C.

• Saturday to Monday

East Midlands: Brighter on Saturday but an increasing risk of heavy showers, perhaps thundery. Rain, heavy at times, for some on Sunday. Further rain, perhaps heavy, on Monday. Temperatures above average.

West Midlands: Mostly unsettled over the weekend and next week with heavy, possibly thundery showers and longer spells of rain at times, mixed with sunnier intervals. Feeling warm and humid.

North-East

• Friday

Low cloud, patchy drizzle and hill fog at first, although this will tend to gradually burn back to the coast. Elsewhere, dry with some warm sunny spells developing. Light winds. Maximum temperature 19C.

• Saturday to Monday

Generally cool with north-easterly winds, bringing extensive low cloud, hill fog and patchy drizzle by night. Brighter during the daytime, with the best chance of any sunshine in the west.

North-West

• Friday

A cloudier day that of late though sunny spells breaking through in the far west. A risk of scattered showers later, these possibly turning heavy. Feeling cooler under cloudier skies. Maximum temperature 18C.

• Saturday to Monday

Often cloudy this weekend and next week with the best of the sunshine often in the west. Occasional showers at times, perhaps turning heavy for some, with some brighter interludes.

Scotland

• Friday

Cloud is due to linger for much of the day, though with some breaks further inland. Maximum temperture 19C.

• Saturday to Monday

Western areas seeing some brighter conditions over the weekend but likely to be cloudy with some drizzle further east. Change expected on Monday with low cloud clearing but cooler too.

Northern Ireland

• Friday

Early mist and fog clearing leaving a dry and sunny day again, perhaps less warm than recently and the possibility of coastal cloud in the east. Maximum temperature 19C.

• Saturday to Monday

Some bright weather on Saturday, a few heavier overnight showers possible. Cloudy on Sunday, perhaps brighter in the north. Winds turning northerly on Monday with some showers.

Wales

• Friday

A cloudy start though sunny spells breaking through by the afternoon. A risk of scattered showers later, these possibly turning heavy and thundery. Feeling warm. Maximum temperature 20C.

• Saturday to Monday

Mostly unsettled over the weekend and next week with heavy, possibly thundery showers and longer spells of rain at times, mixed with sunnier intervals. Feeling warm and humid.