After the heatwave, prepare for f loods
AFTER days of glorious sunshine violent thunderstorms will bring the bank holiday to a dramatic end today – but warm bright weather will return.
Flash floods, lightning and delays on road and rail are expected as ‘disruptive’ weather wreaks havoc.
Alerts for torrential rain have been issued across Britain – and more than an inch and a half could fall in just an hour today.
Soaring heat which has pushed thermometers towards the 30C (86F) mark over the past few days will bring thunder, lightning and warm tropical downpours.
The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for intense, thundery downpours in the southern half of Britain today.
While the North and Scotland will escape the heaviest showers much of the South could see persistent rain, it said.
Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said temperatures will reach mid-20s in the South while the north will be much cooler.
After a fresher interlude tomorrow and Wednesday the mercury will rise again towards the weekend, he added.
He said: ‘The South will see the heaviest downpours on Monday as thundery conditions move up from western France.
‘We expect 1.5in in an hour but when the sun comes through it will be quite warm. Southern areas will be warmer with highs of up to 25C (77F) whereas the North will stay between 13C (55.4F) and 16C (61F), which is about average for the time of year.
‘It is generally going to be quite warm and humid and it is not until Tuesday that we start to see fresher conditions move through the country.
‘Then towards the end of the week there are signs of it turning warmer again, not quite as hot as we have seen, but temperatures back into the mid-20Cs.’
A 19-year- old man from Middlesbrough has died after getting into difficulty at a waterfall in North Yorkshire.
Rescue services were called to Wain Wath on the River Swale near Keld on Friday, following reports four people were in distress.
On Thursday Robbie Lea, 17, drowned in a lake at the Lee Valley Park in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.