Wildfires, floods and storms to hit Britain
BRITAIN will continue to bask in sweltering temperatures into the weekend, with an increased risk of severe thunderstorms, wildfires and devastating flooding.
The Met Office has issued a yellow storm warning for the whole of England, Wales and areas of Scotland, meaning those regions could see flooding and power cuts before the end of Sunday.
Yesterday temperatures in central London reached 34.6C, marking the first time since at least 1961 that there had been six consecutive days of 34C and above.
But the tropical climes have come at a cost, with rain, thunder and lightning lashing Scotland, causing flooding across Perth and Kinross, the Lothians and the Forth Valley.
Ten properties in Lancashire were also flooded as another storm broke out overnight.
Monsoon conditions were last night expected to hit Northern Ireland as well as western areas of England and Wales.
And wildfires have become a major risk after the heatwave sparked several blazes, including last week at Chobham Common in Surrey.
Yesterday The Met Office also warned of potential damage to buildings from lightning strikes or strong winds and said there could be travel disruption today, with 40mm of rain expected in less than an hour.
Met Office forecaster Bonnie Diamond said: “Parts of the UK will see very heavy thunderstorms with torrential rainfall and flash flooding. This could result in landslides and problems with travel.”
And Ben Sheridan from the AA said: “Rain, thunder and lightning combined with the hot weather will make for some challenging driving conditions.
“Don’t be misled by the sunshine – if you ignore flood warning signs there’s a real risk of aquaplaning or causing serious damage to your car.”