Northern Ireland weather forecast as thunderstorm warning in place after warmest day

Northern Ireland experienced its warmest day of the year so far on Saturday, but storms are on the way for parts as a yellow weather warning comes into force.

The Met Office yellow thunderstorm warning is in place across the western half of Northern Ireland between 11am and 7pm today, Sunday, May 12. . The alert has been issued for Co Derry, Co Fermanagh, Co Tyrone, and parts of Co Armagh.

It comes as temperatures reached 23.8 C at both Aldergrove in Co Antrim and Magilligan in Co Derry, with similar temperatures recorded on Saturday at Eglinton Airport. Temperatures also reached a high of 23 C in Coleraine, and 22 C in Omagh and Enniskillen.

Read more: Highway Code rules on driving in sandals, flip flops or bare foot

Read more: Yellow weather warning issued by Met Office for parts of NI

Plenty of people flocked to beaches and coastlines around Northern Ireland on Saturday to escape the heat, with photos from Helen's Bay in Co Down capturing the good times as many enjoyed the sun.

People in areas with a yellow thunderstorm warning should expect some disruption, especially to travel. Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and there is a slight chance of power cuts, the Met Office said.

As for what can be expected, the Met Office said: "Slow moving, heavy showers with a risk of isolated thunderstorms may develop over the west of Northern Ireland from late on Sunday morning.

"Many areas will miss the heaviest showers altogether, but a few places could see 30-40 mm in the space of an hour or two, possibly accompanied by some hail. Should they develop, the showers are likely to fade and die out during the evening."

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.