A weather warning for thunderstorms has been issued covering large parts of Scotland.
The Met Office said heavy showers and gusty winds could be on the way as it has put a yellow weather warning in place from 2pm today until just before midnight.
Some areas could see 50mm of rainfall in less than an hour if thunderstorms develop, the forecaster explained.
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Major cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee are covered by the warning.
Sudden flooding may lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.
Train and bus services could meanwhile face delays or even cancellations as a result of flooding or lightning strikes.
The weather experts also said there is a "small chance" of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing "danger to life".
The Met Office said: "The most intense thunderstorms could produce large hail and gusty winds.
MET OFFICE
|The weather warning is in place from 2pm today
"Showers and thunderstorms will tend to ease mid to late evening, but may linger over Orkney and the far north of mainland Scotland into the first part of the night."
People affected by the weather warning have been advised to secure items such as garden furniture, tents, trampolines, sheds, fences and bins.
Motorists should meanwhile check road conditions to avoid chance of delays, the Met Office said.
It comes as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office have issued an amber heat health alert for five regions in England amid soaring temperatures.
The alert is in place until 6pm today and covers the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, London, and East of England.
PA
|Temperatures are continuing to soar this week amid the fourth heatwave to hit Britain so far this year
The UKHSA said there could be an increase in risk to health for people over 65 years old with pre-existing conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Temperatures are expected to get into the low 30Cs today and and could be even higher in eastern parts of the country, according to Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill.
It marks the fourth heatwave so far this year, with a number of water companies having imposed hosepipe bans.
“There is the potential for some heavy showers across Northern Ireland and maybe northern England, and these could bring some torrential downpours and even a bit of thunder and lightning, and with that, there is the risk of some gusty winds, Burkill said.
“As we go through Thursday, there could be some showers around, particularly early on, and if we do see these developing, they could be a bit heavy and a bit thundery, and temperatures are likely to be a little bit lower.”
Here are all the areas in Scotland impacted by the new thunderstorm warning:
Central, Tayside & Fife
- Angus
- Clackmannanshire
- Dundee
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Perth and Kinross
- Stirling
Grampian
- Aberdeenshire
- Moray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Na h-Eileanan Siar
- Highland
Orkney & Shetland
- Orkney Islands
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
- East Lothian
- Edinburgh
- Midlothian Council
- Scottish Borders
- West Lothian
Strathclyde
- Argyll and Bute
- East Dunbartonshire
- East Renfrewshire
- Glasgow
- Inverclyde
- North Lanarkshire
- Renfrewshire
- South Lanarkshire
- West Dunbartonshire
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