Overview
- Intense, localized thunderstorms struck London and parts of southern England on Tuesday, bringing heavy rain, large hail, frequent lightning and radar-recorded rain rates above 32 mm per hour at sites including Heathrow and Gatwick.
- The Met Office issued a yellow thunderstorm warning covering nine council areas in Scotland from 3pm to 10pm, saying some buildings could be damaged by lightning and some homes and businesses may flood.
- Forecasters advised residents in the warning zone to prepare a flood plan and emergency kit and to consider changing travel arrangements because standing water and spray will affect driving and public transport.
- The storms arrived while many commuters were already disrupted by a 24-hour London Tube strike, increasing the chance of delays for people travelling on foot, by bike or via affected roads and airports.
- The severe weather follows provisional Met Office data showing England and Wales had their warmest meteorological spring, and meteorologists say a shift to low pressure produced the sudden, heavy downpours that could cause local flooding and short-term disruption.