July 18, 2014 12.50 pm This story is over 115 months old

Severe mixed weather conditions forecast in Lincolnshire

Floods to heatwave: Lincolnshire residents should expect a variety of weather conditions this weekend, and be prepared for all possibilities.

Rain, a heatwave, thunderstorms and potential localised flooding are all forecast over the weekend in Lincolnshire, causing authorities to issue weather warnings.

Amber alerts have been issued for Lincolnshire by the Met Office for July 19 and 20, warning of torrential rainfall.

The rain in the county will arrive due to an onset of thunderstorms developing on Friday evening, July 18, also causing a mix of frequent lightning, large hail and strong wind.

This rainfall could lead to the potential for flooding in some areas of the county too.

Lincolnshire County Council have also issued a warning due to the a risk of localised surface water flooding, due to drainage systems possibly struggling to cope, and flash flooding from rivers in urban areas.

Craig Woolhouse, Environment Agency director of flood incident management, said: “Intense heavy rainfall this weekend brings a surface water flood risk for England on Saturday.

“We are monitoring the situation closely and supporting local authorities, who will respond to any reports of surface water flooding.”

However, despite the rainfall expected, there are also yellow alert heat warnings in place for the county between July 18 and 20 too.

A yellow alert means there is a 60% probability of heatwave conditions in an area.

The majority of the hot weather is expected on Friday evening, with temperature in some parts of the county reaching up to 29°C.

It is expected this heat will cool off with the arrival of thunderstorms, but it will still remain humid.

Due to the lingering humidity, there are a number of tips to keep in mind while out in the hot weather:

  • Make sure the sunscreen you are using is SPF15 or higher. Check the ‘use by’ date too.
  • Those at risk of heat exhaustion or heatstroke should avoid going out between 11am and 3pm when the sun is at its hottest
  • Wear UV wraparound sunglasses to reduce UV exposure to your eyes
  • Avoid strenuous outdoor activity, like sport, DIY, or gardening. If you can’t avoid it keep it for cooler parts of the day, like early morning or evening.
  • If you must go out, stay in the shade. Wear a hat and light, loose-fitting clothes, preferably cotton.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Muscle weakness or cramps
  • Intense thirst

If you feel you get these symptoms while out in the heat, find a shaded area and drink water or fruit juice immediately. If ignored, heat exhaustion can become heat stroke, which can be fatal.