UK weather maps turn blue as most of Britain 'disappears' under giant 800-mile storm

The UK is braced for a deluge of rainfall with stormy conditions forecast across the nation. The latest weather maps from WX Charts, which uses MetDesk data, shows a band of rain hitting the British Isles while the Met Office has predicted potential hail and thunder.

A map shows a band of blue, indicating rainfall, spanning from Land's End in Cornwall to Durness in the Scottish Highlands, which is a distance of just over 800 miles, at 12pm on Thursday (September 11). The rain will hit the South West, Wales, the Midlands, London and the North West of England. Parts of western Scotland will also see downpours as well as the whole of Ireland. According to the weather map, around 1mm of rain will fall per hour in most parts, while it is likely to be heaviest in the Yorkshire Dales with up to 2mm forecast per hour.

The wet weather will then continue throughout the afternoon. A second map from WX Charts shows rain persisting across the UK at 3pm.

The South West, Wales, Midlands, London and North West will once again be hit by downpours while Newcastle is expected to remain dry. Parts of west Scotland will also see further rainfall at 3pm.

Temperatures are also expected to be chilly on Thursday with lows of 7C in the Scottish Highlands at 12pm. In England, the mercury will drop as low as 9C in Plymouth and Bristol, while parts of Wales, including Cardiff, will see temperatures fall as low as 8C.

According to the Met Office, there will be windy conditions across the north west of England on Thursday. Wind gusts could hit 33mph in Manchester and Blackpool, and 32mph in Southport and Preston.

The forecaster is also expecting potentially heavy showers across the rest of the UK. There could also be hail and thunder.

Today:

Bands of rain or showers, turning heavy and thundery at times, will move northeast across most areas through the day. There will be some sunny spells. Windy with possible gales in the southwest. Turning cooler from the west.

Tonight:

A band of heavy rain clearing northeast with clear spells and blustery showers following. Perhaps some more persistent rain in western Scotland. Windy with gales in the west.

Thursday:

Windy in the northwest with rain likely for northwest Scotland. Elsewhere, a mixture of sunshine and showers, heavy with hail and thunder at times. Temperatures near normal.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

Remaining changeable with sunny spells and blustery showers, these frequent and occasionally heavy with a risk of hail and thunder. More persistent rain likely arriving on Sunday. Feeling cool.