Yellow thunderstorm warning extended by Met Office to cover Preston, Chorley and Blackburn

Thunderstorms and heavy showers are expected to develop across large swathes of Lancashire on Thursday evening (May 11).

An earlier weather warning – which covers eastern parts of Lancashire, including Clitheroe, Burnley and Rossendale – has since been extended.

It now covers Preston, Chorley, Leyland, Longridge and Blackburn, and is scheduled to end at 7pm on Thursday.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: “Heavy showers will develop quite widely later this morning and afternoon, hail and lightning accompanying showers in some places.

“Some of these showers will be slow-moving and 10 to 2 mm of rain is likely to fall in less than an hour in some places whilst a few spots could see as much as 20 to 50mm of rain in two or three hours.”

What to expect

- There is a good chance driving conditions will be affected by spray, standing water and/or hail, leading to longer journey times by car and bus

- Delays to train services are possible

- Perhaps damage to a few buildings and structures from lightning strikes

- Some flooding of a few homes and businesses likely, leading to some damage to buildings or structures

- Some short term loss of power and other services is likely