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Britain braces for another heatwave but threat of storms remain Britain braces for another heatwave but threat of storms remain
(about 3 hours later)
After torrential downpours and widespread thunderstorms across the UK, forecasters say another heatwave is just around the corner.After torrential downpours and widespread thunderstorms across the UK, forecasters say another heatwave is just around the corner.
Temperatures are likely to soar again next week, possibly topping 30C (86F) for a three-day spell from Wednesday. But the hot and humid weather could spark further thundery downpours. Temperatures are likely to soar again next week, possibly topping 30C (86F) for a three-day spell from Wednesday. But the hot and humid weather could trigger further thundery downpours.
Heavy rain left parts of Britain facing misery as thunder and lightning damaged homes and caused travel disruption. At Heathrow airport in London airlines were forced to cancel 20% of flights for a two-hour period.Heavy rain left parts of Britain facing misery as thunder and lightning damaged homes and caused travel disruption. At Heathrow airport in London airlines were forced to cancel 20% of flights for a two-hour period.
Up to 30mm of rain an hour fell in some places – more than the average monthly rainfall for the whole of July – and Westonbirt in Gloucestershire experienced 79mm overnight on Friday and through Saturday. Up to 30mm of rain an hour fell in some places – more than the average monthly rainfall for July – and Westonbirt in Gloucestershire experienced 79mm overnight on Friday and through Saturday.
Weather warnings remain in place on Sunday, with the Met Office issuing a yellow warning of rain for eastern England and Scotland, forecasting thundery showers with torrential downpours, lightning, hail and strong gusts of wind. Central and western areas are largely dry and clear, with sunshine.Weather warnings remain in place on Sunday, with the Met Office issuing a yellow warning of rain for eastern England and Scotland, forecasting thundery showers with torrential downpours, lightning, hail and strong gusts of wind. Central and western areas are largely dry and clear, with sunshine.
The wet weekend has also prompted flood warnings from the Environment Agency, which on Sunday morning issued 45 flood alerts and one more serious flood warning for the river Penk at Somerford in the West Midlands after 40mm fell in 12 hours. The wet weekend has also prompted flood warnings from the Environment Agency, which on Sunday morning issued 45 flood alerts and one more serious flood warning for the river Penk at Somerford, Staffordshire, after 40mm fell in 12 hours.
Gemma Prebble, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said the worst of the bad weather was over, with temperatures on Sunday reaching a maximum of 26C (78.8F) in south-east England and 20C to 24C (68F to (75.2F) across the rest of the UK. Gemma Prebble, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said the worst of the bad weather was over, with temperatures on Sunday reaching a maximum of 26C (78.8F) in south-east England and 20C to 24C (68F to (75.2F) across the rest of the UK.
Prebble said it was likely to be very warm all next week: "By Tuesday there will be highs of 28C (82.4F) in the south-east and on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday it will possibly be up to 30C (86F) in the south-east." Prebble said it was likely to be very warm all next week: "By Tuesday there will be highs of 28C (82.4F) in the south-east and on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday it will possibly be up to 30C (86F) in the south-east."
The heat is again likely to bring with it the risk of heavy showers and thunderstorms, especially in the outh, on Wednesday and Thursday, but the warm spell is likely to stretch on into the following week, Prebble said. The heat is again likely to bring with it the risk of heavy showers and thunderstorms, especially in the south, on Wednesday and Thursday, but the warm spell is likely to stretch on into the following week, Prebble said.
Some families will be preoccupied with recovering from the impact of Saturday's storms, however. A family of four were forced out of their home after their semi-detached bungalow in Holland on Sea in Essex was struck by lightning, the roof of another property in Chelmsford collapsed after it was hit, and fire crews across Essex and Kent dealt with a number of other fires started by lightning. Some families will be preoccupied with recovering from the impact of Saturday's storms, however. A family of four were forced out of their home after their semi-detached bungalow in Holland on Sea, Essex, was struck by lightning, the roof of another property in Chelmsford collapsed after it was hit, and fire crews across Essex and Kent dealt with a number of other fires started by lightning.
Twenty-seven patients on a ward at the Royal United hospital in Bath had to be moved when heavy rain brought down part of a ceiling. Twenty-seven patients on a ward at the Royal United hospital in Bath had to be moved when heavy rain brought down part of a ceiling.