By Doncaster to see ‘severe’ thunderstorms
Much of South Yorkshire, including Doncaster, could be hit by ‘severe’ thunderstorms this week following a recent heatwave, weather experts have predicted.
Temperatures across much of England reached 30C on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but while extreme heat gradually declines the risk of thunderstorms is expected to increase.
The Met Office have issued yellow warnings of thunderstorms across the county on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The forecast comes as Wentworth and Dearne Labour MP John Healey labels the recent £16m flood provisions for South Yorkshire as “inadequate.”
He added that in the event of severe weather or flooding, locals would be left “fearing their homes, businesses, and schools will be devastated over and over again”.
A spokesperson for the Met Office said:
“There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes and large hail.
“Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to public transport.
“Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and increased chance of accidents.
“There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost.
“There is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life.”
Dan Harris, deputy chief meteorologist, added:
“It’s just too early to pinpoint the details of exactly where and when thunderstorms will occur.
“As such, we will be monitoring the developing signals closely and I urge people to keep a close eye on Met Office warnings and forecasts over the coming days.”
According to a spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the government have already built 59 new flood defences in Yorkshire.
They said:
“We understand the heartbreak, devastation and disruption faced by communities when flooding hits and we are committed to making the country as resilient to flooding as possible.
“This is why we have already built 59 new flood defences in Yorkshire since 2015, better protecting 13,200 homes, and nationally we have committed record levels of investment over the next six years to better protect 336,000 properties.”
So far, ministers have given £16 million to bolster flood defences.
Works costing around £6m are also being carried out by the Environment Agency in Doncaster to repair damaged to a 40m stretch of riverbank caused by floods.
But the county needs funding worth at least £270m to make a real impact, Mayor Dan Jarvis has said.
Last November’s floods devastated almost 1,000 homes and 565 businesses across South Yorkshire.
Doncaster was particularly badly affected after the River Don burst its banks following a huge deluge of rain.
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