Met Office issues yellow thunderstorm warning for Edinburgh and Lothians with flood alert in place
Thunderstorms are expected to hit the region on Tuesday afternoon
Edinburgh and the Lothians is set to be hit by thunderstorms this afternoon with a yellow weather warning in place.
The Met Office has issued the yellow thunderstorm warning, covering the east coast and much of the central belt of Scotland.
The warning is in place from 12pm today (August 4) until 10pm this evening.
The Met Office said: “Heavy and thundery showers are expected to develop this afternoon and continue into the early evening.
“Whilst not all places in the warning area will see heavy showers, accumulations of 15 to 20 mm are possible in 1 hour and 30 to 40 mm in 3 hours or so where they do occur. Hail and lightning will be additional hazards.”
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has also issued a flood alert for Edinburgh and the Lothians ahead of today’s thunderstorms.
SEPA said in its update: “Heavy and thundery showers in some places could cause significant flooding impacts on Tuesday afternoon and evening. Not all areas will see the heaviest showers.
“However, if the heaviest rain falls over urban areas or the transport network there could be flooding of low lying land and roads, flooding affecting properties and travel disruption.
“There could also be flooding from small rivers and watercourses.”
Thunderstorms are expected to ease up over Edinburgh and the Lothians throughout the week.
Wednesday (August 5) will remain damp for many across the region, but clouds will replace downpours until the end of the week with some patchy showers still possible.