Temporary power cuts possible as heavy rain and thunderstorms hit Wiltshire

Residents across Wiltshire, including Salisbury, could experience temporary power cuts as unsettled weather brings periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms.

The Met Office has warned that severe weather can lead to disruption, including power cuts, particularly where heavy rainfall, lightning and strong winds affect electricity infrastructure.

In Salisbury, the forecast includes the possibility of showers and a rumble of thunder, with further unsettled conditions and occasional rain expected over the coming days.

Thunderstorms can cause problems for electricity networks when lightning strikes equipment or when strong winds bring down trees and branches near overhead power lines. Heavy rain can also contribute to flooding and damage to electrical infrastructure.

Most weather-related power cuts are temporary, with electricity network operators working to restore supplies as quickly and safely as possible.

Residents who lose power should not assume the problem is with their electricity supplier. Power cuts are normally dealt with by the local electricity distribution network.

If your electricity goes off, you can call 105 free of charge to report the problem and receive information about the outage. National Grid also provides information about current power cuts and advice for customers.

People should also stay away from fallen or damaged power lines and report any dangerous electrical equipment to the network operator.

With thunderstorms and heavy rain possible, residents are being encouraged to keep phones and power banks charged and check local weather and power-cut information if conditions deteriorate.