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Thunderstorms and lightning break British heatwave Thunderstorms and lightning break British heatwave
(about 3 hours later)
The fine weather has broken in spectacular fashion across swaths of the UK, with violent thunderstorms, lightning and torrential rain causing disruption on the rail and road networks and leading to flooding, power cuts and fires.The fine weather has broken in spectacular fashion across swaths of the UK, with violent thunderstorms, lightning and torrential rain causing disruption on the rail and road networks and leading to flooding, power cuts and fires.
A severe weather warning was put in place by the Met Office, which said the storms would continue to cause problems in some areas for the rest of Tuesday and into Wednesday.A severe weather warning was put in place by the Met Office, which said the storms would continue to cause problems in some areas for the rest of Tuesday and into Wednesday.
The change in the weather meant misery for thousands of rail and underground commuters. Rush-hour passengers in London, northern England, the west Midlands, southern and eastern England and parts of Scotland were all affected.The change in the weather meant misery for thousands of rail and underground commuters. Rush-hour passengers in London, northern England, the west Midlands, southern and eastern England and parts of Scotland were all affected.
Rail travellers in Manchester bore the brunt of the problems after signals were damaged by a lightning strike, stranding some trains at Manchester Piccadilly station.Rail travellers in Manchester bore the brunt of the problems after signals were damaged by a lightning strike, stranding some trains at Manchester Piccadilly station.
But signals were also hit by lightning in eastern England, the west Midlands and Bristol, while in Kent fallen electricity cables and flooding on the lines led to cancellations and delays. Signals were also hit by lightning in eastern England, the west Midlands and Bristol, while in Kent fallen electricity cables and flooding on the lines led to cancellations and delays.
It was a frustrating – and sticky – commute on the London underground, where there were severe delays on the District line. There were also freight service hold-ups in the Channel tunnel. It was a frustrating – and sticky – commute on the London underground, where there were severe delays on the district line. There were also freight service hold-ups in the Channel tunnel.
Motorists faced delays because of flooding on motorways in Bristol, the West Midlands and Manchester. Surface water caused problems in Birmingham city centre and on main roads leading to the city's airport.Motorists faced delays because of flooding on motorways in Bristol, the West Midlands and Manchester. Surface water caused problems in Birmingham city centre and on main roads leading to the city's airport.
Thousands of homes were briefly left without power in Gloucestershire and Bristol, and it was also a busy night and morning for firefighters in some parts of the UK. Crews dealt with house fires apparently caused by lightning strikes in Kent, while the Greater Manchester fire service rescued drivers from two cars after they became stranded driving through floodwater in Burnage. Thousands of homes were briefly left without power in Gloucestershire and Bristol, and it was a busy night and morning for firefighters in some parts of the UK. Crews dealt with house fires apparently caused by lightning strikes in Kent, while the Greater Manchester fire service rescued drivers from two cars after they became stranded driving through floodwater in Burnage.
The storms followed the hottest day of the year on Monday, according to the Met Office. The highest temperatures were recorded at Heathrow airport and Northolt, north-west London, reaching 33.5C, and beating the previous record of 32.2C on 17 July. The storms followed the hottest day of the year on Monday, according to the Met Office. The highest temperatures were recorded at Heathrow airport and Northolt, north-west London, reaching 33.5C, beating the year's previous high of 32.2C on 17 July.
Cardiff's Bute park was the hottest place in Wales, reporting 29.4C, while Auchincruive in Ayrshire, Scotland, saw 26.8C and Castlederg in Northern Ireland reached 26.3C.Cardiff's Bute park was the hottest place in Wales, reporting 29.4C, while Auchincruive in Ayrshire, Scotland, saw 26.8C and Castlederg in Northern Ireland reached 26.3C.
The Met Office's yellow severe weather warning covered almost the whole of mainland Britain bar the very western tips. A warning for Wednesday covers much of eastern and northern England, plus most of Scotland.The Met Office's yellow severe weather warning covered almost the whole of mainland Britain bar the very western tips. A warning for Wednesday covers much of eastern and northern England, plus most of Scotland.
A Met Office spokesman described the storms as "widespread and energetic". A Met Office spokesman described the storms as "widespread and energetic". He said: "Large rainfall totals, falling in short periods, perhaps exceeding 50mm in three hours, on to hard-baked ground, may lead to flooding locally, with hail and gusty winds an additional possibility.
"Large rainfall totals, falling in short periods, perhaps exceeding 50mm in three hours, on to hard-baked ground, may lead to flooding locally, with hail and gusty winds an additional possibility.
"As is common in such situations, not everywhere will catch the heaviest of the storms, and some places may well escape altogether.""As is common in such situations, not everywhere will catch the heaviest of the storms, and some places may well escape altogether."
Pershore in Worcestershire recorded the highest rainfall total with more than an inch of rain (25.8mm) falling overnight, half the area's 50mm average for the whole of July, the Met Office said.
Rochdale saw 18.6mm of rain (0.7ins) in 12 hours to 7am, while Monks Wood in Cambridgeshire recorded a total of 15mm (0.6ins).
A single flood alert – for Middle Level in the fens in Cambridgeshire – was put in place by the Environment Agency on Tuesday morning.A single flood alert – for Middle Level in the fens in Cambridgeshire – was put in place by the Environment Agency on Tuesday morning.
While the storms are expected to persist into Wednesday in some places, those areas that avoid them are expected to continue to bask in sunshine and high temperatures.While the storms are expected to persist into Wednesday in some places, those areas that avoid them are expected to continue to bask in sunshine and high temperatures.
The hot weather has taken its toll on the UK, with grassfires in London, mountain blazes in the Welsh valleys and forest fires in Fife, Scotland.The hot weather has taken its toll on the UK, with grassfires in London, mountain blazes in the Welsh valleys and forest fires in Fife, Scotland.
Wildlife experts warned of the risk of fires in important landscapes that were in "tinderbox" condition after days of hot, dry weather. Devon Wildlife Trust teamed up with the Devon and Somerset fire service to urge people in the region to avoid lighting fires, which can devastate habitats that are key for rare species and pose dangers to people and farmland.Wildlife experts warned of the risk of fires in important landscapes that were in "tinderbox" condition after days of hot, dry weather. Devon Wildlife Trust teamed up with the Devon and Somerset fire service to urge people in the region to avoid lighting fires, which can devastate habitats that are key for rare species and pose dangers to people and farmland.
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