Thunderstorm warnings remain for parts of UK but drought continues

Met Office yellow warnings will stay in force throughout Thursday and the early hours of Friday as downpours and thunderstorms continue.

A broad swathe of England and Wales is covered by a thunderstorm warning which is valid until 22:00 BST.

Heavy rain will continue to bring the risk of flash flooding and travel disruption, with up to 75mm (3in) of rain possible in places - accompanied by large hail, lightning and gusty winds.

The Midlands has been one of the worst affected areas so far with "significant flooding" in areas including Birmingham and Staffordshire.

The National Drought Group, which is coordinating England's response to the ongoing dry spell, said this week's rain is the first meaningful wet weather many areas have seen since June. However, it says the situation remains serious.

Showers and storms that brought a very wet morning in the south of the UK will continue to move across northern England during the afternoon.

There will be sunny spells further south, accompanied by scattered heavy downpours with the risk of thunder.

Within the Met Office yellow warning area, 20-30mm (0.8-1.2in) of rain could fall in just a few hours, with up to 50mm (2in) over a 12-hour period. Hills exposed to the easterly wind could possibly see 75mm (3in).

Hazardous driving conditions are expected with a chance that roads will be closed and communities cut off.

Lightning strikes could lead to power cuts, and hailstones of 1-2cm (0.4-0.8in) are also possible.

Some rain is likely to arrive in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland by evening, although these northern areas of the UK are likely to avoid the very wettest weather.

The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms covering eastern England for later on Thursday.

During Thursday afternoon a new area of heavy, thundery rain will move northwards out of France.

Some computer weather models suggest the bulk of the wet weather will remain over the North Sea but other predictions show it is more likely to affect parts of eastern England.

Up to 75mm (3in) of rain could fall in the wettest locations - although there is uncertainty

The yellow warning is valid from 17:00 on Thursday until 07:00 on Friday.

Frequent lightning, large hail and gusty winds could pose additional hazards.

The coming weekend brings a number of festivals and high-profile events.

Reading and Leeds Festivals both run from Thursday until Sunday, as does Creamfields in Cheshire.

Manchester Pride takes place from Friday until Bank Holiday Monday, while Saturday marks the start of Notting Hill Carnival in London, which also continues until Monday.

The weather looks decidedly mixed for these events, with a fresher feel, brisk winds - especially in the south - and the likelihood of rain at times.

A zone of wet weather will move eastwards across England and Wales on Saturday, although drier and brighter conditions may spread from the west later. Northern Ireland and Scotland will be a little drier with some sunny spells, but there is still the chance of a few showers.

More heavy showers will move eastwards on Sunday, this time affecting most parts of the UK. Some of these could be heavy and thundery, with wind gusts touching 40-45mph (64-72km/h) in the far south-west of England later.

Temperatures will tend to range from 16C (61F) in northern Scotland to 23C (73F) in southern England, which is about normal for late August.

Low pressure remains in charge on Monday meaning strong winds and further showers, perhaps heaviest across the north of the UK.

There is no sign of a return to the dry and hot weather that has dominated this summer.

Whatever your plans for the weekend, you can keep up to date with the forecast by checking the BBC Weather website and app.