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Yellow thunderstorm warning triggers flash-flood risk in Lancashire

8/21/2026

Summary

Met Office Alerts

Met Office issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for northern England and north Wales on Thursday.
Heavy showers could produce 15–20 mm of rain per hour, totaling 30–50 mm in six hours.
Environment Agency warned that Walverdon Water in Nelson, Lancashire may flood due to flash-flood risk on drought-hardened ground.
Drought officials said 71.3 % of England and all of Wales are in drought after July’s record-dry month.

Summary

Defra Announces Flood

Defra announced a £10.5 bn flood-defence programme that fully funds the first £3 m of flash-flood projects.
The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales sought a River Severn drought order requiring a 5 % cut by water companies.
The 2024 National Flood Risk Assessment found six million English properties vulnerable to surface-water flooding.
National Housing Federation says 80 % of high-risk homes lie in towns and cities, urging flood-resilience targets for housing associations.

Summary

Burnham bans BBQ

Prime Minister Andy Burnham called Britain a “tinderbox” and backed a temporary disposable-barbecue ban.
About 200 military personnel from London, Greater Manchester, Cumbria and Bedfordshire were deployed to fire crews.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service logged 736 calls on Saturday, more than double its usual 300-call average.
Millions across England and Wales received a mobile alert warning of a “very high risk of wildfires nationally.”

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Met Office Alerts

Met Office issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for northern England and north Wales on Thursday.
Heavy showers could produce 15–20 mm of rain per hour, totaling 30–50 mm in six hours.
Environment Agency warned that Walverdon Water in Nelson, Lancashire may flood due to flash-flood risk on drought-hardened ground.
Drought officials said 71.3 % of England and all of Wales are in drought after July’s record-dry month.

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