Met office warns of 'danger to life' as Lancashire thunderstorm warning upgraded to amber

The Met Office has warned severe thunderstorms could bring flash flooding across the county sparking an amber weather warning.
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The national weather service has issued an amber warning for thunderstorms from 5.40pm this evening (August 12) lasting until 9pm tonight.

Forecasters have predicted "fast flowing and deep water" could occur quickly, potentially bringing "a danger to life" and extensive flooding of homes and businesses.

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Areas covered by the warning include, Preston, Lancaster, Blackpool, Morecambe, Fleetwood, Lytham St Annes, Chorley, Leyland, Southport, Ormskirk, and the western edges of Blackburn.

Areas of Cumbria including Kendal, Barrow-in-Furness, and Windermere are also covered by the warning, as well as parts of the North West including Wigan and Liverpool.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: "Further severe thunderstorms will affect parts of England and Wales on Wednesday evening. Some places will miss these, but where they occur they will be intense.

"Rainfall totals of 30-40mm may fall in as little as 20 minutes, with a chance of 60mm falling in an hour and 70-100 mm falling in 2-3 hours."

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"Large hail, frequent lightning and gusty winds will be additional hazards. Most thunderstorms will die out later in the evening though a few may continue into the night."

Forecasters have predicted"fast flowing and deep water"could occur quickly, potentially bringing"a danger to life".Forecasters have predicted"fast flowing and deep water"could occur quickly, potentially bringing"a danger to life".
Forecasters have predicted"fast flowing and deep water"could occur quickly, potentially bringing"a danger to life".

A yellow warning for thunderstorms remains in place until 9pm next Monday (August 17), with heavy showers and thunderstorms expected at times, leading to some flooding or travel disruption.

What the Met Office say to expect:

- There is a chance that fast flowing/deep water could suddenly occur, bringing a danger to life and extensive flooding of homes and businesses

- Damage to buildings/structures from lightning strikes, hail, strong winds may occur

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- If flooding occurs, road closures with long delays and cancellations to bus and rail services are possible

- Rapidly changing, dangerous driving conditions from spray, sudden flooding, standing water and/or hail might occur

- Power and other essential services, such as gas, water, mobile phone service could be lost

- Communities might be completely cut off, perhaps for several days

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