Weather warning: Thunder and heavy rain heading for Northamptonshire on Easter Sunday

Met Office experts are warning parts of Northamptonshire could be rattled by intense thunderstorms and heavy rain on Easter Sunday afternoon as the weekend heatwave comes to a dramatic end.

Sweltering heat will give way to storms heading in from the west which could cause flooding and power cuts from 3pm today (Sunday April 12).

A Met Office spokesman said: "Some areas will remain dry but a few thunderstorms are expected to break out during the course of the afternoon and early evening.

"Where thunderstorms do occur, torrential downpours could produce 20-30 mm and possibly as much as 40-50 mm of rain in 2-3 hours. Frequent lightning is likely, along with hail and gusty winds in a few places."

The storms will be followed by a dramatic drop in temperatures as thermometers struggle to make it into double figures.

Tomorrow's maximum is forecast to be just NINE DEGREES compared to 21 °C today.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper when you do your weekly shop.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.