Torrential thunderstorms, lightning and hailstones lash the UK

July 25, 2021

Torrential thunderstorms, lightning and hailstones lash the UK as roads and homes are hit by a deluge of rain as Met Office issues amber warnings for flooding across the UK

Areas of south England saw up to 50mm of rain in an hour on Sunday afternoon after torrential downpours
Thousands of revellers enjoying Latitude Festival on Sunday missed thunderstorms which were to the west
The heatwave enjoyed by much of the UK came to an end as rain descended on the south of England
Last weekend, the UK bathed in high temperatures into the late 20s following flash floods earlier that week

Thunderstorms bringing lightning and torrential rain to the south are set to continue until Monday, forecasters have said.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for storms covering London and some of the Home Counties where homes and businesses are at risk of flooding, lasting until 7pm on Sunday.

A yellow warning for storms which could cause travel and power disruption also covers a wider area of the south from Norwich to Plymouth, and lasts until midnight.

Parts of south east England saw up to 50mm of rain in just an hour on Sunday afternoon while thousands of revellers enjoying the first full-capacity festival since Covid-19 missed the rain, with thunderstorms recorded to the west of Henham Park in Suffolk.

Met Office rain gages looking back over six hours saw 34mm of rain at Sandhurst and 32mm at Wych Cross in East Sussex. An Environment Agency rain gage recorded 52mm of rainfall in an hour just west of Ashford.

Parts of south east England saw up to 50mm of rain in just an hour on Sunday afternoon as the area was battered by torrential thunderstorms and downpours (Pictured: People walking in Wimbledon Common, south west London, shelter from heavy showers under an umbrella)

Rain will cover much of the UK by Tuesday this week as the warmer weather comes to an end and the wet sets in

Two friends in summer dresses shield themselves with umbrellas to shelter themselves from the heavy rain showers which broke the week long heatwave in London

Met Office meteorologist Steven Keates said parts of the south between south Suffolk and the Isle of Wight could be deluged by 100mm of rain in just a few hours on Sunday evening.

He said: ‘There’s torrential thunderstorms around yet again. ‘Into the evening, from Norfolk to Bournemouth we are going to see some pretty lively showers.

‘Torrential downpours, thunder and lightning and potentially some hailstones are settling in the south.’

Mr Keates said the storms are being caused by a ‘convergence’ of air currents, due to warmth in the earth’s surface from the recent heatwave rising into cooler air in the atmosphere.

It comes after lightning set fire to houses in Andover, Hampshire, on Saturday morning, forcing residents to leave.

Neighbours heard an ‘enormous bang’ as the strike set two homes ablaze on Mercia Avenue, and a 70-year-old woman was assessed by paramedics.

Kingston Police, who oversee a borough in the amber zone for storms, warned motorists to ‘drive carefully’ and remember they are ‘not driving a submarine’.

The force said in a tweet: ‘Please remember to drive carefully. Also remember that you’re not driving a submarine. Do not enter what could possibly be deep water. Watch your speed and distance as stopping distances will be greater.’

A car drives through water on a flooded road in The Nine Elms district on London on Sunday following hours of heavy rain in the capital

Two people shelter under the same umbrella as the walk through the grass at Wimbledon Common on the rainy Sunday afternoon

One parkgoer in Wimbledon shelters herself from the rain while her friend stands nearby while they walk through the Common on Sunday afternoon

Rain bounces off the pavements in central London as people shelter under umbrellas as the capital was battered with heavy rain and thunderstorms

Two friends in summer dresses shelter themselves from the rain during heavy showers which broke a weeklong heatwave where temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius in London

Two people cuddle up under an umbrella on a walk through Wimbledon Village during the heavy rain showers on Sunday afternoon

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for storms covering London and some of the Home Counties where homes and businesses are at risk of flooding, lasting until 7pm on Sunday

Thunderstorms brought torrential downpours and localised flooding to parts of the south east on Sunday

The rain brought an end to the heatwave earlier this week, potentially disappointing anyone who hoped for a dry, sunny trip to the coast.

The rest of the country was forecast to experience a cloudy, more settled end to the week while sunshine is expected in Scotland.

Temperatures are set to rise in most places again on Monday as the storms clear, with the mercury predicted to reach 26C in London, 25C in Edinburgh, 24C in Cardiff, and 22C in Belfast.

The Met Office has predicted early cloud in some northern and eastern parts which will move up to Scotland, and sunny spells and scattered showers in most places throughout the day.

Earlier this week, Britons heading on staycations to campsites and caravan parks along the south coast were warned over incoming storms, hail and 55mph winds which were set to hit England on Friday evening and last throughout the weekend.

Traffic navigates its way through deep water on a flooded road in The Nine Elms district of London on Sunday during heavy rain

A car drives through deep water on a flooded road in The Nine Elms during the torrential downpour

A cyclist wades through deep water on a flooded road in The Nine Elms district of London on Sunday

Earlier today, blue skies covered the festival, with people wearing summer clothing as they watched Griff perform at Henham Park in Southwold

The great British summer getaway began on Friday as the heatwave continued — with around 400,000 tourists heading to packed airports over the weekend and up to 2.3 million drivers set to hit the roads as the school holidays kicked off.

The UK enjoyed another blast of heat on Friday before the torrential rain was forecast to set in, causing flooding, travel disruption and could even leave some areas ‘cut off’ this weekend as a month and a half’s worth of rain was set to fall in just a few hours.

There was a warning for heavy downpours and thunderstorms for southern England and South Wales from 8pm Friday and over the next two days with up to 2in (50mm) of rain expected within just a few hours.

Latitude festivalgoers got to enjoy sets by Rudimental, Sea Girls, Nadia Rose and Kawala on Saturday evening with no masks or social distancing as tightly packed crowds of people danced along to upbeat music.

Thousands of revellers enjoying the first full-capacity festival since Covid-19 missed the rain for much of the afternoon, with thunderstorms recorded to the west of Suffolk

The heatwave which much of the UK enjoyed for the past week came to an end, as rain descended on the south of England during Latitude Festival

The four-day festival, which is part of the Government’s Events Research Programme, is being attended by 40,000 people. Festivalgoers must show proof of a negative Covid-19 test or be double vaccinated to access the site at Henham Park in Suffolk which also boasts its own pop-up vaccination clinic

The four-day festival, which is part of the Government’s Events Research Programme, is being attended by 40,000 people.

Festivalgoers must show proof of a negative Covid-19 test or be double vaccinated to access the site at Henham Park in Suffolk which also boasts its own pop-up vaccination clinic.

Photographs show revellers taking a zen moment with a spot of yoga or a quick dip in the lake in between drinks and musical acts. For those who love comedy, a tent dedicated to British and Irish-based comics featured Kerry Godliman and Katherine Ryan.

Headliners The Chemical Brothers, Bastille and Bombay Bicycle Club were booked to perform at the event.

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