Saturday weather: Storms and high winds for London - July 15

London can expect thunderstorms and “unusual” winds of up to 45mph on Saturday July 15, according to the Met Office.

Kaleidoscope Festival at Alexandra Palace, headlined by Hot Chip, has already been cancelled following a weather warning.

Winds stronger than 40mph are forecast to begin around 3pm and last into the evening, possibly easing after 8pm.

Temperatures are expected to reach 20C, but thunder is forecast for around 1pm, with heavy showers.

Rain will fade by the evening, but Sunday could bring cloud and scattered showers.

Met Office national weather warning

The Met Office has issued a national yellow weather warning for wind and rain, saying an Atlantic low-pressure system is bringing unseasonably strong winds, and heavy rain or showers to many places across the UK over the coming days.

Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: “This is an unusual time of year for such strong winds and, with many people on holiday or planning outdoor activities, they are likely to cause some disruption. In addition, heavy rain could lead to standing water and spray on roads and consequently difficult driving conditions. Winds are expected to ease through the evening. Temperatures are expected to stay near average or rather cool over the coming days especially in the rain and wind.”

The Met Office says the start of the weekend will see blustery conditions, showers and a risk of some heavy rain and thunder at times, as the deep area of low pressure continues to have an impact.

It adds: “The winds will be strongest in the south and east of England where gusts are expected to widely reach 40mph, with 50-55mph in exposed places such as over hills and along the south coast. We could again see some minor impacts and travel disruption before the winds ease later in the evening.”

Kaleidoscope Festival

In a statement on Friday, Kaleidoscope’s organisers said: "We are devastated to announce that due to the Met Office’s Yellow Warning and the significant safety risks the forecasted high winds pose on Saturday, 15 July, we have no choice but to cancel Kaleidoscope Festival.

They added: "We made this decision based on a site-specific weather forecast provided by the Met Office and following consultation with partners, including the local authority, health and safety advisors, structural engineers and the emergency services. Ultimately, people’s safety has to be the priority."