Fri Jul 18 10:10:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided text:
**Headline: UK Braces for Flash Floods After Heatwaves Dry Soils**
**London, UK –** Following a summer of record-breaking heatwaves and widespread drought, the UK is on high alert for flash flooding as intense thunderstorms are forecast to sweep across the nation this Friday night and into Saturday. The Met Office has issued yellow thunderstorm warnings, predicting torrential downpours that could deliver over a month’s worth of rain in just a few hours in some areas.
The combination of baked-dry soils and the rapid influx of water creates a heightened risk of flash flooding, as the parched ground is unable to effectively absorb the rainfall. This can overwhelm local sewers and drainage systems.
“Because the rain will be very heavy in places, it will runoff rapidly, perhaps overwhelming local sewers, before heading to the rivers and out to sea,” said Helen Wakeham, Environment Agency Director for Water and National Drought Group chair.
The thunderstorms are expected to develop over France before moving northwards, with the heaviest rain initially hitting central southern England, south-east England, and the Midlands on Friday night. By Saturday, the storms are predicted to move towards northern England and Scotland.
Forecasters warn that the storms could bring 20-30mm (around an inch) of rain per hour, and potentially as much as 60-90mm (2.4-3.5 inches) in a few hours. The storms also pose a risk of frequent lightning, large hail, and gusty winds, potentially leading to significant transport disruptions.
Sunday could see slow-moving rainfall across northern Scotland, bringing further flash flood risks. The unsettled weather is expected to continue into Monday, with widespread showers and thunderstorms remaining a possibility across the UK.
The Environment Agency emphasizes that the drought conditions are likely to persist, with hosepipe bans expected to remain in place for the rest of the summer and potentially into autumn, as significant rainfall over an extended period is needed to replenish reservoir and groundwater levels.
First Piper 