There is a higher-than-usual risk of flash flooding ahead, experts have warned, as thunderstorms are set to hit the hard, dry areas left parched by recent summer heatwaves.
The heavy rain currently seen in Scotland and Northern Ireland is expected to become widespread in parts of England and Wales on Thursday.
There is a chance of thunder, lightning and localised, surface-water flooding in some places, according to forecasters.
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What has happened so far in Meta’s trial over ‘harm to children’
Caption: Toronto, Canada – December 5, 2024: Meta Platforms apps on a smartphone – Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, Meta View, Meta Horizon, Threads, Workplace, Business Suite.
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The first hearing day of the lawsuit against Meta over alleged child harm ended yesterday.
A coalition of 29 US states initially brought the action against Meta Platforms in 2023 in California, accusing the company of deliberately designing its platforms to be addictive to young people.
The opening arguments
California’s deputy attorney general Megan O’Neill alleged that Meta hid the truth about the risks its platforms posed to children, chose profit over safety and actively intervened in its own mental health research.
Caption: Attorney Paul Schmidt, representing Meta Platforms Inc., arrives at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building & US Courthouse in Oakland, California, US, on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. Meta Platforms Inc. is headed to court Tuesday for a high-stakes showdown with a coalition of state attorneys general over claims that the company deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to encourage compulsive use among young users. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Caption: Colorado Chief Trial Counsel Jason Slothouber (C) and California Deputy Attorney General Megan O’Neill (C-L) exit Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building & United States Courthouse in Oakland, California, on August 12, 2026 during jury selection as Meta faces trial about alleged harms to children. The federal trial, one of the most consequential among a myriad of legal proceedings targeting social networks in the United States, will begin Wednesday with jury selection at a federal court in Oakland, near San Francisco. (Photo by Godofredo A. V??SQUEZ / AFP via Getty Images)
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Meta’s lawyer Paul Schmidt argued the company always took safety into account, has a track record of sharing information about social media harms and that enforcing content and age limit policies is complicated.
A whistleblower’s testimony
Meta whistleblower Arturo Béjar said in his testimony that Meta knew its platforms were harming young people, and underplayed the amount of harm among users in its public reports.
During the trial, protestors gathered outside the courthouse.
Caption: Mothers of children who allegedly died due to impacts of social media during a protest outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building & US Courthouse in Oakland, California, US, on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. Meta Platforms Inc. is headed to court Tuesday for a high-stakes showdown with a coalition of state attorneys general over claims that the company deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to encourage compulsive use among young users. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Caption: Demonstrators hold a banner with the names of young people who allegedly died due to impacts of social media during a protest outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building & US Courthouse in Oakland, California, US, on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. Meta Platforms Inc. is headed to court Tuesday for a high-stakes showdown with a coalition of state attorneys general over claims that the company deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to encourage compulsive use among young users. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Photographer: Bloomberg
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What happens next?
California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, said the hearing will resume with the continuation of Béjar’s testimony. The trial is expected to last 5-7 weeks.
Whether CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg will testify is still “TBD”, according to Bonta.
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How Ulez is improving children’s health in London
Caption: Young girl receiving respiratory treatment at home
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A study has revealed that children’s lungs grew bigger and stronger after the introduction of the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez), which restricted the most polluting vehicles from entering London.
The researchers described it as a vindication of the policy, which has been criticised as a burden on motorists.
What you need to know
Previous research showed that by the age of eight or nine, children living in London’s most polluted areas had lung capacity that was 5–10 per cent lower than that of children living elsewhere.
This increased their risk of developing respiratory diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and premature death later in life.
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The study
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London recruited 1,664 children aged six to nine in London and 1,750 in Luton.
They then measured the children’s lung health and size annually to assess how air quality changes after the introduction of Ulez affected their lung development.
The children in London initially had much smaller lungs than those in Luton, but after Ulez, their lungs’ health improved until they were comparable with those in Luton.
What Khan has said
For years, politicians and pundits opposed to the Ulez have cynically sought to turn questions of public health into a crude culture war. Today, though, it’s clear that we’re winning the battle against toxic air in the capital – and it’s London’s children who are reaping the rewards.
Sadiq khan, mayor of london
Caption: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 18: London Mayor Sadiq Khan attends press day of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, United Kingdom on May 18, 2026. (Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Research suggests the thymus is a major player in healthy ageing (Photo: janulla/Getty)
read more from the i paper
The organ in your chest that could be key to living longer
If you ever muse about which parts of your body are most impacted by getting older, your heart, brain or perhaps your muscles may come to mind. One that you probably wouldn’t think of is the thymus.
Caption: Erin Patterson leaves Melbourne Supreme Court. April 15th, 2025 (Photo by Jason South / The Age via Getty Images)
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Erin Patterson challenges convictions over mushroom murders
Erin Patterson was jailed for life last September for murdering three relatives and trying to kill another after giving them a poisonous mushroom meal.
But now, Patterson is returning to court in an attempt to overturn her conviction.
What Patterson’s lawyers argue
Patterson’s lawyers say there are pieces of evidence the jurors saw which were not relevant and prejudicial, causing a substantial miscarriage of justice.
They include mobile tracking data indicating that she had been to places where death cap mushrooms had recently been seen, and online messages to Facebook friends in which she ranted about her in-laws and estranged husband.
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A closer look at the detail
Patterson’s lawyers also claimed that other evidence had been wrongly excluded.
They pointed to photos relating to her hobby as a long-time mushroom forager that would have supported their argument that the deaths were a tragic accident.
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Issues with prosecution
Her lawyers argued that the prosecution had been inconsistent over the motive, initially telling the court they would not put forward a specific motive, but later suggesting that one did exist.
They criticised the five days Patterson was cross-examined by barrister Nanette Rogers.
Patterson said it was “unfair and oppressive”.
Because of the global scrutiny on the case, steps were taken to ensure the jury were insulated from outside influences.
‘Fundamental irregularity’
However, Patterson’s lawyers argued a “fundamental irregularity” occurred which “fatally undermined” the integrity of the verdicts.
This is because the jury shared a hotel with members of the prosecution among others.
The judge at the time said there was no evidence the jury interacted with anyone linked to the case.
What happens next?
The result of the appeal will not be announced immediately after these hearings, as reaching a decision could take months.
If the three judges overturn her convictions, there are two options – a retrial or acquittal.
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Caption: TOPSHOT – Convicted murderer Erin Patterson is escorted out of the Supreme Court of Victoria following the day’s proceedings in a pre-sentencing hearing in Melbourne on August 25, 2025. The only guest to survive a toxic mushroom lunch with Australian murderer Erin Patterson said August 25 he feels “half alive” without his wife — one of the killer’s three poisoning victims. Patterson, 50, was convicted in July of triple murder for serving beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms — the world’s deadliest fungi — to her estranged husband’s parents, aunt and uncle during a sumptuous lunch at her home in rural Leongatha in the state of Victoria in 2023. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP) (Photo by MARTIN KEEP/AFP via Getty Images)
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If the prosecution’s appeal is successful, Patterson may see her parole period extended, or could face life without parole.
tennis
Nick Kyrgios banned from tennis after positive cocaine test
Nick Kyrgios is back in action (Photo: Getty)
Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for cocaine.
The Australian submitted a sample during the Mallorca Open on 22 June that was later found to contain benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
What you need to know
Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended since 4 August.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency said Kyrgios could appeal against the provisional suspension “but has not done so to date”.
In a post on Instagram, Kyrgios said he made “a huge mistake” and takes “full responsibility” for it.
What the suspension means
Kyrgios cannot play, coach at or attend Grand Slams or any events sanctioned by the men’s and women’s tennis tours.
The 31-year-old has played just four singles matches this season, having struggled with injuries. He last played in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon, where he lost in the first round.
Nick Kyrgios is confident despite playing just one match all year ahead of Wimbledon (Photo: PA)
Kyrgios hits a winner en route to the semi-finals (Photo: AFP)
Years of injuries take toll
My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do. Coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined. None of that excuses what I did.”
Nick Kyrgios said in a written statement
Kyrgios is through to the semi-finals at Wimbledon (Photo: AFP)
These kinds of flash floods can be particularly dangerous because they can occur very suddenly in urban streets not usually prone to flooding.
Philip and Elaine Marco, aged 77 and 76, drowned in their car when severe flash flooding hit a section of Mossley Hill in Liverpool in August 2023.
With climate change making heavy rain more common, experts have warned drainage systems could be “overwhelmed”.
They urged the Government to introduce more “sponge city” features such as urban wetlands.
Drought-hit areas at risk of flash floods
Beyond this week’s weather, Jim Dale, founder of British Weather Services, told The i Paper that he “wouldn’t be at all surprised” if flash flooding occurs as summer turns into autumn.
He said towns and cities in southern England, the Midlands and Wales that had seen drought conditions in recent weeks were most at risk.
“The tarmacked and concreted areas are always more likely to feel the effects of flash flooding,” said Dale, who explained urban parks and green spaces may be unlikely to help absorb torrential rain.
Much of England and all of Wales was in drought during the recent summer heatwave (Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty)
“The ground has been so hard in the heat that even former green areas might not be able to absorb water to the same extent, especially in these drought areas in the south of England, the Midlands and Wales.
“So towns and cities in these regions in the south, the Midlands and Wales – like London, Birmingham, Cardiff – are perhaps the most likely to be affected [by flash floods],” he added.
“But it doesn’t mean flash flooding can’t happen in the north of England or further north in the UK. Flash floods can be very irregular events.”
The north-east, Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire, and Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire had “prolonged dry weather” status last week. But the rest of England and Wales have been officially in drought.
London and other urban areas most at risk
About 4.6 million properties in England alone are at risk from surface water flooding, an updated National Flood Risk Assessment found in 2024.
The risk of flash flooding is more acute in dense urban areas, research shows. A 2025 study by Aviva found that 14 areas in London were in the top 20 constituencies at risk of surface-water floods.
The Essex constituencies of Thurrock, Castle Point, South Basildon and East Thurrock, Basildon and Billericay – along with Bootle and Sefton Central in the north-west – were the other high-risk areas identified by the insurance company.
Eight in 10 (80 per cent) homes deemed to be at high risk of flooding are in England’s towns and cities, according to the National Housing Federation (NHF) analysis of Environment Agency data.
Lizzi Hearn, the NHF’s external affairs manager, said the drought this summer “will likely heighten this risk” of flash flooding, calling it a “growing risk” in urban areas which have the most social housing.
The NHF wants the Government to adopt clear flood-resilience targets and standards to help housing associations take a proactive approach to managing the risk for tenants.
Why ‘sponge city’ design is needed
The rise in urban flash flooding risk is due to factors like ageing drainage infrastructure and the rapid expansion of concreted or tarmacked areas, as well as climate change.
Experts say the Government and councils should demand more “sponge city” design features such as smarter drainage systems with roadside gardens when it comes to housing development.
More “permeable pavements” – built with materials that let rain drain right through them and into the ground below – could also help reduce the risk of flash flooding. Creating urban wetlands would also allow more rain to be absorbed in Britain’s cities.
The Chinese city of Chongqing has been designed as a ‘sponge city’ to soak up heavy precipitation (Photo: Qilai Shen/Getty)
Dr Carola Koenig, from the Centre for Flood Risk and Resilience at Brunel University, said the Government could “do more to encourage such solutions”.
“In our cities we still have drainage systems that were built for Victorian times,” said Dr Koenig, warning that some were at risk of getting “overwhelmed” in flash floods.
“We could do more to encourage urban solutions, like more green areas, and permeable pavements and driveways.”
Lord Toby Harris, chair of the National Preparedness Commission, said urban flash flooding was “something we’re going to have to take more seriously when it comes to managing flood risk”.
He said that in the short term, councils should be vigilant to clear leaves that may be blocking drains. In the longer term, planners and builders will have to think about smarter drainage systems and more green spaces.
“Lots of people in cities don’t think it [flooding] can affect them, but it can,” said Lord Harris.
Friends of the Earth campaigner Paul de Zylva said ministers must do “far more” to protect people from the impacts of severe weather. “That means strengthening the government’s woefully inadequate climate adaptation plans.”
Thunderstorms ahead this week
BBC Weather has warned of possible thunderstorms and even some “localised flooding” on Thursday, as heavy rain moves down from the north of England into the Midlands and East Anglia.
“There could be one or two areas that have some localised surface water flooding… particularly given that the ground is rock hard after all of that dry, hot and sunny weather we’ve seen this week,” said forecaster Chris Fawkes.
Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon said north Wales and north-west England would see the heaviest of the “thundery downpours” on Thursday – but warned that heavy rain will move down into the Midlands as the day goes on.
“Much of that rain will be falling on hard, dry land that is unlikely to be easily absorbed. So there is some potential for surface water impact.”
A Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesperson said the Government was investing £10.5bn in flood defences over the next decade.
Flash flooding defence projects, which are typically smaller in scope than river and coastal schemes, will benefit from being eligible for full Government funding for the first £3m of their costs.
“We have simplified our funding rules, making it quicker and easier to deliver the right flood defences in the right places and have set aside 20% of future investment to help the most deprived communities in England,” they said.