Experts have revealed the exact day and time thunderstorms are set to hit Southend as a downpour of rain is expected following days of blistering heat.

Forecasters are predicting thunder, lightning and flooding as a yellow weather warning comes into force across the UK.

The Met Office has implemented a thunderstorm warning which covers Southend until 11.59pm on Wednesday after a change in air pressure led to dramatic showers.

Power cuts and delays and cancellations in trains and buses are predicted, while spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions for motorists.

In Southend, the Met Office is forecasting thunderstorms to hit on Tuesday at 2pm, with a 60 per cent chance of rain.

This lowers to 50 per cent in the next hour, but a thunder shower is expected at 3pm.

Thunder will stop from 4pm until 7pm, when it is expected to start again with a 60 per cent chance of rain.

Despite this, temperatures are still expected to remain in the 20s throughout the day.

Greg Dewhurst, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said the week would start off quite humid before cooling down later on.

He told the PA news agency: “We’ll start off initially quite humid, particularly across the south and the east of the UK, with thundery showers and sunny spells, but it will gradually become cooler and fresher as the week goes on.

“First half of the week, we’re looking at some heavy downpours and thunderstorms developing.”