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Stormy weather and hail bring disruption to southern England Stormy weather and hail bring disruption to southern England
(about 4 hours later)
Parts of southern England have been hit by storms bringing lightning, thunder, heavy rain, localised flooding and hailstones the size of peas. First it was the heatwave, now parts of southern England have been hit by storms bringing lightning, thunder, heavy rain, localised flooding and hailstones the size of peas.
The severe weather hit the Hove, Brighton and Worthing areas of Sussex at the start of the Monday morning rush hour, with trains heading along the south coast affected. Lightning hit an electricity substation, cutting power to the coastal rail route, although the main line to London was running normally. The severe weather hit the Hove, Brighton and Worthing areas of Sussex at the start of the Monday morning rush hour, with trains heading along the south coast affected. Lightning hit an electricity substation, cutting power to the coastal rail route, although the main line to London ran as normal.
“There was a lightning strike at 6.20 at an electricity substation, which meant we lost the power supply to the third rail – which provides traction power to the trains. There have been delays and cancellations in the Brighton to Shoreham line, but not the main line to London,” said a Network Rail spokesman. “Rail replacement buses have been affected by severe flooding so it has been a difficult morning.”“There was a lightning strike at 6.20 at an electricity substation, which meant we lost the power supply to the third rail – which provides traction power to the trains. There have been delays and cancellations in the Brighton to Shoreham line, but not the main line to London,” said a Network Rail spokesman. “Rail replacement buses have been affected by severe flooding so it has been a difficult morning.”
There was thunder, lightning and heavy rain in Brighton and Hove and the surrounding areas overnight.There was thunder, lightning and heavy rain in Brighton and Hove and the surrounding areas overnight.
Freak summer storm brings 'rivers of hail' and 'snow indoors' #brightonstorm http://t.co/MXAOmLzmQw pic.twitter.com/vLOddNIpJHFreak summer storm brings 'rivers of hail' and 'snow indoors' #brightonstorm http://t.co/MXAOmLzmQw pic.twitter.com/vLOddNIpJH
Local residents tweeted descriptions of the storm, which started at 5.30am. Residents tweeted descriptions of the storm, which started at 5.30am.
“Unbelievable storm this morning! Thunder so loud thought it was in bed with me,” tweeted @nickgillam.“Unbelievable storm this morning! Thunder so loud thought it was in bed with me,” tweeted @nickgillam.
Unbelievable storm this morning ! Thunder so loud thought it was in bed with me. #BrightonStorm pic.twitter.com/DkJgK8GJu7Unbelievable storm this morning ! Thunder so loud thought it was in bed with me. #BrightonStorm pic.twitter.com/DkJgK8GJu7
Laurence Hill wrote: “Used to be roads. Now rivers of hail. Never seen anything like it.”Laurence Hill wrote: “Used to be roads. Now rivers of hail. Never seen anything like it.”
“OMG! Just went downstairs & quite a lot of the kitchen’s under an inch of water!,” tweeted @veganinbrighton“OMG! Just went downstairs & quite a lot of the kitchen’s under an inch of water!,” tweeted @veganinbrighton
OMG! Just went downstairs & quite a lot of the kitchen's under an inch of water! #brightonstormOMG! Just went downstairs & quite a lot of the kitchen's under an inch of water! #brightonstorm
Brighton and Hove police posted: “Localised flooding in Hove and Portslade, some roads not passable. Please do not enter flood water on foot or in cars.”Brighton and Hove police posted: “Localised flooding in Hove and Portslade, some roads not passable. Please do not enter flood water on foot or in cars.”
An East Sussex fire and rescue service spokesman said: “Since the early hours of Monday 28th July, Brighton crews have been dealing with a large number of weather-related emergency calls. Firefighters have responded to a range of incidents, including flooding, lightning strikes and false alarms caused by the weather.”An East Sussex fire and rescue service spokesman said: “Since the early hours of Monday 28th July, Brighton crews have been dealing with a large number of weather-related emergency calls. Firefighters have responded to a range of incidents, including flooding, lightning strikes and false alarms caused by the weather.”
Sussex police urged drivers to take more care.Sussex police urged drivers to take more care.
Take care if you're out and about this morning in #Sussex, avoid driving into flood water and check your bus and train services!Take care if you're out and about this morning in #Sussex, avoid driving into flood water and check your bus and train services!
“Heavy rain after a long warm spell invariably leads to slippery roads and drivers need to immediately adjust to the new conditions,” said road policing officer PC Andy Huggett.“Heavy rain after a long warm spell invariably leads to slippery roads and drivers need to immediately adjust to the new conditions,” said road policing officer PC Andy Huggett.
A Southern Water spokesman said: “Torrential rain fell across Sussex this morning which has led to parts of our sewer network becoming overwhelmed by the sheer volume of water entering it. We are doing all we can to help customers affected by this.”A Southern Water spokesman said: “Torrential rain fell across Sussex this morning which has led to parts of our sewer network becoming overwhelmed by the sheer volume of water entering it. We are doing all we can to help customers affected by this.”
And rising.... #worthingtrainstation #flooded pic.twitter.com/V7oC7gp09zAnd rising.... #worthingtrainstation #flooded pic.twitter.com/V7oC7gp09z
London fire brigade rescued two women from a car which got stuck in flood water near South Ruislip station, north-west London. The fire service said 50 houses were also affected by flood water in the area.London fire brigade rescued two women from a car which got stuck in flood water near South Ruislip station, north-west London. The fire service said 50 houses were also affected by flood water in the area.
Firefighters also rescued five people from three neighbouring houses which were flooded in Thaxted, Essex. One family remained on the first floor of their home while crews pumped water from the property after flood water affected the electrics, an Essex fire and rescue spokesman said.Firefighters also rescued five people from three neighbouring houses which were flooded in Thaxted, Essex. One family remained on the first floor of their home while crews pumped water from the property after flood water affected the electrics, an Essex fire and rescue spokesman said.
The Met Office has issued a “yellow” warning of rain – meaning there is a “moderate risk” – of thundery downpours for East Anglia, the south-east and London. Some 30mm (1.2in) of rain – half the average monthly total for England in July – fell in an hour in some areas overnight, a spokeswoman said. The Met Office has issued a “yellow” warning of rain – meaning there is a “moderate risk” – of thundery downpours for East Anglia, the south-east and London. Some 30mm (1.2in) of rain – half the average monthly total for England in July – fell in an hour in some areas overnight, a spokeswoman said.
KempTown resudents' reaction to the thunderstorm: #brighton #soproud pic.twitter.com/kzDM4h5HkTKempTown resudents' reaction to the thunderstorm: #brighton #soproud pic.twitter.com/kzDM4h5HkT
The Met Office said 43mm (1.7in) of rain fell in an hour in Great Dunmow, Essex, between 4am and 5am. Meanwhile, 37mm (1.5in) of rain was recorded in an hour in Isfield, Sussex, while 35mm (1.4in) fell in Ardingly, Sussex. In Northolt, north-west London, 43.4mm (1.7in) of rain fell over a three-hour period on Monday morning and in Santon Downham, Suffolk, 51.2mm (2in) of rain was recorded from 3am to 9am.The Met Office said 43mm (1.7in) of rain fell in an hour in Great Dunmow, Essex, between 4am and 5am. Meanwhile, 37mm (1.5in) of rain was recorded in an hour in Isfield, Sussex, while 35mm (1.4in) fell in Ardingly, Sussex. In Northolt, north-west London, 43.4mm (1.7in) of rain fell over a three-hour period on Monday morning and in Santon Downham, Suffolk, 51.2mm (2in) of rain was recorded from 3am to 9am.
The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for the Kidbrooke stream at Forest Row, East Sussex. The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for the Kidbrooke stream at Forest Row, East Sussex.
“Heavy showers will bring a chance of some localised surface water flooding issues across parts of Sussex and Kent this afternoon,” it said. “Further heavy showers are expected from around dawn tomorrow across much of south-east England which may result in some surface water flooding, especially in urbanised areas.”“Heavy showers will bring a chance of some localised surface water flooding issues across parts of Sussex and Kent this afternoon,” it said. “Further heavy showers are expected from around dawn tomorrow across much of south-east England which may result in some surface water flooding, especially in urbanised areas.”
The AA said it attended 34 flood-related call outs, mostly around west London and West Sussex.
Darron Burness, head of the AA’s flood rescue team, said: “Although the flash flooding was forecast, it is more difficult to predict the actual impact on the ground and unfortunately some people this morning found out the hard way that drains struggle to cope with such large deluges.
“Don’t risk driving down a flooded road as just a tiny amount of water can wreck your engine – three-quarters of flood-damaged cars are written off. It’s far better to turn round and find an alternative route.”
East Sussex fire and rescue service said nearly 300 calls were received within a few hours this morning.
A further 60 calls had to be passed to colleagues in Cambridgeshire as the storms swept in, causing a surge in 999 calls.
Des Prichard, East Sussex's chief fire officer, praised the “swift and effective response” of his staff during the deluge.