All the weather in one day as heat turns to hail by evening

BRITAIN today faces the hottest day of the year, followed by thunderstorms and a month’s rainfall in three hours by the evening.

Severe weather warnings have been issued for the country; one of a heatwave, the next of flooding, thunder and hail.

England yesterday saw temperatures of 87F (31C), and the Met Office predicts today will hit 93F (34C).

Public Health England (PHE) declared a level two heat-health alert, triggered when the Met Office forecasts a 60 per cent or greater chance of temperatures hitting 86F (30C) for at least two consecutive days.

It asked the public to check on people who may be susceptible to the heat. Dr Angie Bone, of PHE, said: “Those with asthma, people with other heart and lung conditions, older people and younger children, may all feel that the higher temperatures put an additional strain on their bodies.”

The hot and humid air is expected to trigger thunderstorms across much of the country from this evening until late tomorrow, with a severe weather warning for rain and the possibility of flash floods, lightning, hail and gusty winds, which could disrupt power.

The Met Office is predicting 1.2in (30mm) of rain an hour – the average rainfall for the whole of July is 3.1in (78.1mm). Wales, northern England and the Midlands will be the most affected.