Today could be the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures expected to soar to 84F (29C) in Britain – after the weekend saw the country hit by 67,000 lightning bolts and flooding.
The Met Office said temperatures could hit highs of 28C (82F) or 29C (84F) in the South East, potentially surpassing the 2018 record of 29.1C on April 19 in St James’ Park, central London.
Sunseekers were pictured on beaches all across the country to enjoy the warm weather on bank holiday Monday.
It comes after thunderstorms and heavy downpours swept across the country on Sunday, causing severe flooding that left a major routes into Birmingham impassable because of water up to 5ft deep. More than a month’s rainfall deluged parts of the city in just one hour.
Today could be the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures expected to soar to 84F (29C) in Britain – after the weekend saw the country hit by 67,000 lightning bolts and flooding. Pictured is Lyme Regis beach, Dorset
Sunseekers were pictured on beaches all across the country to enjoy the warm weather on bank holiday Monday. Pictured is Lyme Regis beach in Dorset today
The Met Office said temperatures could hit highs of 28C (82F) or 29C (84F) in the South East (pictured, Dorset today), potentially surpassing the 2018 record of 29.1C on April 19 in St James’ Park, central London
Police were called to Lichfield Road, Walsall, just after 2am today to reports that a car had entered the water (left). Today could be the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures expected to soar to 84F (29C) in Britain – after the weekend saw the country hit by 67,000 lightning bolts and flooding (left, Brimingham)
Members of the Technical Rescue Unit of West Midlands Fire Service with a boat after more than a month’s rainfall deluged parts of Birmingham in just one hour on Sunday
People clearing up on bank holiday Monday after flash floods in Forth Avenue, Selly Park, Birmingham. Flash floods have hit the streets of the Birmingham after a storm dropped a month’s rainfall in one hour
Flash floods in Sir John’s Road, Selly Park, Birmingham on Sunday. Homes were flooded and car were drowned in Harborne, Edgbaston and Selly Oak
Residents on Sir Johns Road in Selly Oak, Birmingham had to be rescued by firefighters using boats as one red Ford Focus was pictured close to being engulfed by the rising waters
Thunderstorms and heavy downpours swept across the country on Sunday, causing flash flooding that left a major route into Birmingham impassable because of water up to 5ft deep
As torrential rain fell in Birmingham last night many roads became unpassable due to flooding
A man in his 80s died after his vehicle submerged in flash flooding. Police were called to Lichfield Road, Walsall, just after 2am today to reports that a car had entered the water.
The victim, who is believed to be in his 80s, was taken to hospital but pronounced dead a short time later. His next of kin have been informed.
Chief Inspector, Paul Ditta, from West Midlands Police, said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family of the man who died today.
‘There are a number of roads affected across the region that have been badly affected by the flooding.
‘Many people will be heading away for the half term break and I’d urge people to take care on the roads and allow extra time to travel.’
Meanwhile, 20 people had to be rescued from a double decker bus on Pershore Road, Birmingham, and many others were rescued from their cars and homes.
The Environment Agency has more than 20 flood warnings – including four red ‘immediate action’ notices – and more than 40 flood alerts in place covering much of Central England.
A yellow weather warning for rain is also in place from the afternoon for large swathes of East Anglia, the South East including London, the South West and Wales.
Forecasters said a site at Winterbourne, in Edgbaston, recorded 2.2ins of rainfall in just one hour on Sunday afternoon, and 3.1ins in a 12-hour period.
The monthly average for the West Midlands region in May is 2.1ins, meteorologist Craig Snell said.
But he said the torrential rain had been ‘very localised’, pointing out that another site 10 miles away at Coleshill recorded just 0.1ins of rain in 12 hours.
The heavy downpours could continue for some on Monday, with a yellow weather warning for rain in place as thunderstorms roll south through Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire overnight.
Today will see less chance of thunderstorms and rain. Traffic hotspots are expected to include the M25 between Gatwick Airport and the M1, the M3 south west of London, the M4 west of London and between Cardiff and Swansea, and the A47 Swaffham to Great Yarmouth.
Mr Snell said: ‘We won’t see the scenes we saw the other night. There could be a few very short-lived thunderstorms but overall it will be a much quieter night.’
Southern England was struck by lightning between 15,000 and 20,000 times on Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Mr Snell said: ‘It all depends how much cloud develops. There’s a chance we could see the warmest day of the year. It will be quite widely into the 20s across many parts of the UK. For a bank holiday Monday, it’s not looking too bad.
‘Further thundery downpours might appear in the late afternoon – not everyone will see them but if you do see one they could be quite nasty. The areas worst hit on Sunday might escape.’
Scotland would see the most prolonged sunshine, he said, but most areas would start dry and cloud cover quickly burn off.
Pictured: Storms over the Isle of Wight. A cluster of 17 flood alerts has been issued for parts of the Thames Valley, while West Midlands and Bedfordshire fire services warned motorists of the risks of driving on flood-hit roads
The 62,000 strikes contained 15million kWh of energy – enough to boil water for 600million cups of tea, lightning and energy data showed. Pictured: Storms over the Isle of Wight
Despite the ominous yellow weather warnings and rumbling across the south, the UK could be set for the hottest day of year tomorrow, with the sun reemerging in time for Bank Holiday barbecues, all day drinking and al fresco dining
Residents in Birmingham were caught in flash floods as torrential rain poured down across the Midlands, while crowds descended on Weymouth beach in the South East as families raced to secure prime sun bathing real estate.
More than 62,000 lightning bolts blitzed Britain in the ‘lightning show of a lifetime’. Thunderstorms will return today but are not expected to be as strong, making way tonight for a sunny Bank Holiday Monday at 84F (29C).
Lightning hit the south east before midnight with thunderstorms then striking Wales and the rest of England in the early hours of today.
One house in Stanway, Essex, had its roof completely destroyed when it was struck by lightning and erupted in flames.
Passengers were left stranded on planes for hours at Stansted airport after flights were cancelled and grounded following a lightning strike hitting a fuel tank.
Scotland and Northern Ireland escaped the worst of the bad weather, however temperatures are still expected to reach 77F (25C) in the South East.
Britons have been sweltering in 80F heat yesterday with clear skies and stifling humidity replacing last night’s lightning strikes – but the Met Office have warned to baton down the hatches tonight as more thunderstorms loom
Residents in Birmingham were caught in flash floods as torrential rain poured down across the Midlands but the wet weather failed to put a dampener on the spirits of some Pride festival goers
One house (pictured) in Stanway, Essex, had its roof completely destroyed when it was struck by lightning and erupted in flames
On arrival fire crews discovered that the ‘entire roof of the detached building was alight’ and had to spend three hours at the property
The roof has been destroyed while most of the house itself has also been affected by fire damage. No-one was in the property at the time of the lightning strike and it is believed the home owners are on holiday
Lightning dramatically hit The Shard in London in the early hours of this morning as the Bank Holiday weather took a turn for the worse with heavy rain
At least 17million journeys are expected to be taken over the long weekend but plans to enjoy outdoor barbecues could be hit by more potential thunderstorms. Pictured: Lightning strikes on Kent Coast
A fantastic display of lightning has taken place above the skies of Birmingham in the West Midlands whilst heavy rains soaked the area
Amazing images show the true power of storm clouds that passed over Birmingham. The lightning lasted for hours over Saturday night into Sunday morning whilst rain lashed down soaking anyone who could not get to cover
Pictured: Lightning strikes above Wembley Stadium in London (left) and over Northolt in west London (right)
A deluge hit the south east before midnight with showers or longer spells of rain promised for Wales and central and southern England today. Pictured: This bolt found its target on the outskirts of the City of London
The crew of the RNLI station at Tower Hill posted this photograph on Twitter showing these dramatic scenes last night
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service sent three vehicles to attend the fire in Stanway last night at 1:38am after lightning hit the roof of a property.
On arrival fire crews discovered that the ‘entire roof of the detached building was alight’ and had to spend three hours at the home.
No-one was in the property at the time of the lightning strike and it is believed the home owners are on holiday. The roof has been destroyed while most of the house itself has also been affected by fire damage.
The 62,598 lightning bolts that hit Britain in a 24-hour period recorded until 9am today is 20 times more than an average lightning storm’s 3,000 strikes, Met Office data shows.
Weather experts said it the best lightning storm of their lifetime. BBC weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker tweeted: ‘Mother of all #thunderstorms now over London. Oh boy! This is utterly insane.’
He added: ‘That was one adrenaline-gagging-meteorologically-sickening-bonkers-conkers-electrifying sky show. I’ve never seen a storm with such frequent lightning in my life.’
The London Fire Brigade said it had taken more than 500 weather-related calls as the warm and humid bank holiday weather broke down into an ‘utterly intense’ storm.
In Warwickshire, the fire service said five properties were struck by lightning in the early hours of Sunday, while in Dawlish, Devon, a telephone box burst into flames after a BT pole was hit on Saturday evening.
A cluster of 17 flood alerts has been issued for parts of the Thames Valley, while West Midlands and Bedfordshire fire services warned motorists of the risks of driving on flood-hit roads.
Western Power Distribution said nearly 1,000 properties had been left without power across the Midlands, with the majority of outages down to lightning.
The 62,000 strikes contained 15million kWh of energy – enough to boil water for 600million cups of tea, lightning and energy data showed.
Made In Chelsea star Binky Felstead reveals her daughter India’s nursery is ‘ruined’ after her London home floods during thunder storm
Damage: Binky Felstead have revealed the devastating effect Saturday night’s thunder storms had on her London home
Binky Felstead, 27, has revealed the devastating effect Saturday night’s thunder storms had on her London home.
The former Made In Chelsea star shared photos on Instagram on Sunday of flood damage at the house she shares in the capital with her partner Josh Patterson and their daughter India, eleven months.
Binky told fans her daughter’s nursery is ‘ruined’ after water flooded into the lower floor of the property during the ‘mother of all thunderstorms’ across the country on Saturday.
Binky has been holidaying on the Isle of Wight with her daughter and friends over the weekend, while Josh is working on a photoshoot in Capri, Italy.
While the family have been away though, their recently renovated house has suffered severe damage.
Taking to Instagram on Sunday afternoon, Binky shared a happy snap of her daughter India playing in the sunshine on holiday, only to reveal in the caption the ‘nightmare’ that awaited them back home.
‘At least someone has no idea of the nightmare that’s going on back at ours … her nursery is ruined as is all of the bottom floor of our place. Thank you for that last nights storm.’
In photos of the house shared on her Instagram stories, thick black mud and water can be seen covering the floor of the hallway and India’s room, with the carpet and the tot’s toys destroyed.
Binky captioned one of the photos: ‘Happy bank holiday to me,’ while the nursery snap was accompanied by the words: ‘Cheers to last night’s storm.’
The reality star also took to Twitter to plead with Thames Water to help her, sending the message: ‘Sorry @thameswater getting worried no one is going to show up … can you let me know how long you’re going to be to sort this out.’
A representative for Binky has been contacted by MailOnline for comment.
Binky previously revealed that she completed work on India’s nursery a matter of days before her daughter’s birth on June 12 last year.
Ruined: The former Made In Chelsea star shared photos on Instagram on Sunday of flood damage at the house she shares in the capital with her partner Josh Patterson and their daughter India, eleven months
Met Office forecaster Emma Salter said: ‘Thunderstorms looked widespread in the South, before becoming fewer on Monday.
‘It will feel really warm, and muggy and humid. 29C is a 40 per cent chance on Monday or Tuesday, with 27C still being seen on Wednesday.
‘Bizarrely, hot air is coming to us from Scandinavia – and we never normally say that.
‘It would have been bitterly cold a couple of months ago. But now the landmass has heated up with highs 10C above average in Scandinavia, with their air coming to us via Denmark.’
The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: ‘Beating 29.1C for the hottest day of the year is possible.’
A Big Issue seller braves the bank holiday rain in a wetsuit and a pair of flippers during the Hay Festival in Hay on Wye, in South Wales
Britain’s bank holiday weekend has been rudely interrupted by torrential rain, thunder and a spectacular display of lightning. Pictured: This fork of lightning stretched across the sky towards the city of London
There were incredible scenes over the City of London with lightning streaking across the darkened skies