The UK is set for more thunderstorms as weather forecasters warned of flash flooding, lightning – and even hail.
Parts of Britain were battered by storms on Saturday, with severe flooding left roads submerged in some areas following torrential downpours.
And the Met Office has warned that the tempestuous weather will be with us until Monday amid the current hot conditions, with heavy downpours and up to 60mm of rain set to fall in a short space of time in some locations.
The storms will mainly affect England and Wales, with Scotland and Northern Ireland expected to be dry.
But Chief Meteorologist Frank Saunders warned people to vigilant.
“Up until Monday, thunderstorm warnings cover much of England and Wales, with parts of southern England and South Wales seeing the greatest likelihood of impacts,” he said.
“The storms will not affect all areas, but where they happen there will be frequent lightning, gusty winds and intense, heavy downpours with 30 to 40mm of rain possible in less than an hour and, in a few unlucky spots, a small chance of 60 mm falling in a short period.
“With the continuing hot weather, large swathes of the UK continue to be at risk from thunderstorms, and potentially the impacts from heavy rain, into the early part of next week.”
After temperatures of 34C (93.2F) were record for six days in a row earlier this week, Mr Saunders said temperatures would be cooler than in previous days.
But he said it would still be warm and humid in the south and west, with the mercury potentially rising to 30C (86F) in some locations.
“The hot weather is slowly subsiding now, with more cloud, but it will still be very warm and humid where the sun comes out in the south and west of the UK.
“In contrast to the last few days, maximum daytime temperatures will be reducing, with only isolated locations seeing temperatures of 30.0 °C or above.
“And some northern and eastern areas much less warm at times, with a lot of low cloud and hill fog.”
The thunderstorm warning comes after parts of Britain were deluged on Saturday.
A city in Essex was inundated by so much rain during a severe thunderstorm that two men were able to paddle along a flooded street in a canoe.
Severe flooding left roads submerged and water spilling into the Meadows Shopping Centre and a Tesco store in Chelmsford on Saturday afternoon.
After about 40mm (1.6ins) of rain fell in about 60 minutes, two men were seen taking a canoe out on a flooded residential street, EssexLive reported.
Chelmsford residents described scenes of “carnage” and said “half the city seems to be underwater” just before 5pm after the area was swamped by torrential downpours.
The Met Office had issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms for much of southern England and parts of south Wales, saying up to 50mm (or just under 2ins) of rain could fall in just two to three hours.
Bad weather including heavy rain and low cloud caused the cancellation of three flypasts by the Red Arrows to commemorate VJ day.
The RAF display team had planned to fly over London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast to commemorate 75 years since VJ Day.
However, only the Belfast flypast took place as the other events were cancelled due to the bad weather.
UK5 weather forecast
Much of Scotland and Northern Ireland dry; sunny and warm in the west but misty, cloudy and cooler further east. England and Wales, starting mostly cloudy with heavy showery outbreaks. Some brighter spells developing but torrential thundery downpours for some.
Tonight:
Showers and thunderstorms continuing in parts of England and Wales but a few clearer spells allowing patchy fog; mild. Further north mostly fine with clearer skies towards the northwest.
Monday:
Showery outbreaks reaching parts of the north, although northwest Scotland still bright and warm. Further south, another day with occasional sunshine but also torrential thundery downpours which may cause disruption.
Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday:
Thundery showers on Tuesday, mainly central parts. Drier and brighter for many on Wednesday but showers or longer spells of rain will move northeast later on Wednesday and through Thursday.