London drivers struggle through flash floods on official first day of autumn

Summer is well as truly over as London drivers struggle through flash floods and lashing rain on the first day of autumn- but the sun will make a comeback this week.

Londoners were pictured driving on flooded roads today, while elsewhere in the south of England people huddle under umbrellas.

The north of England and Scotland have also received some scattered showers with chilly winds, but have mostly seen brighter and sunnier weather, with maximum temperatures of 53F.

Fortunately the persistent rain is set to move eastwards by this afternoon and it will turn dry and sunny but will continue to feel cool due to the strengthening wind.

A woman on her phone as rain falls in the capital today. Fortunately the persistent rain is set to move eastwards by this afternoon and it will turn dry and sunny but will continue to feel cool due to the strengthening wind

Londoners and people in the south of England have been hit by heavy downpours and flooded roads on the first day of autumn

Londoners and people in the south of England have been hit by heavy downpours and flooded roads on the first day of autumn

The hot summer months look like they are finally coming to a close as Londoners took their umbrellas out the cupboard and used them to fend off the driving rain this morning

The hot summer months look like they are finally coming to a close as Londoners took their umbrellas out the cupboard and used them to fend off the driving rain this morning

Driving experienced some challenging driving conditions today (pictured). Fortunately the persistent rain is set to move eastwards by this afternoon and it will turn dry and sunny but will continue to feel cool due to the strengthening wind

Driving experienced some challenging driving conditions today (pictured). Fortunately the persistent rain is set to move eastwards by this afternoon and it will turn dry and sunny but will continue to feel cool due to the strengthening wind

Later tonight there will be long clear spells throughout most of the country and the wind will become less biting, with possible frost descending on some areas of the country as it gets colder

Later tonight there will be long clear spells throughout most of the country and the wind will become less biting, with possible frost descending on some areas of the country as it gets colder

Later tonight there will be long clear spells throughout most of the country and the wind will become less biting, with possible frost descending on some areas of the country as it gets colder.

Workers will hopefully wake up to a mostly sunny Monday, with some clouds building up in the afternoon.

There will be showers for Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England throughout the day.

Two friends share a joke and shelter under an umbrella as the rain falls in London this morning. The weather outlook for the week suggests the sun will soon be making a welcome return

Two friends share a joke and shelter under an umbrella as the rain falls in London this morning. The weather outlook for the week suggests the sun will soon be making a welcome return

Splash: The heavy rain today caused some roads in London and the south of the country to experience some minor flooding

Splash: The heavy rain today caused some roads in London and the south of the country to experience some minor flooding

The first signs of autumn appearing at the Tu-Hwnt-I'r Bont tea room in Llanrwst on the banks of the  River Cowny in Wales

The first signs of autumn appearing at the Tu-Hwnt-I’r Bont tea room in Llanrwst on the banks of the River Cowny in Wales

The moody, miserable weather has fallen on the first day autumn with heavy rain and clouds plaguing the UK skies. 

But the Met Office said more settled weather is predicted during the week with temperatures rising to almost 70F, but chilly nights are expected with widespread frosts.

Met Office forecaster Becky Mitchell said: ‘We’ve got high pressure building and that means dry weather and a good amount of sunshine in the south [next week].

‘In the south the temperatures will be about average for the time of year, maybe a bit higher, but there will be quite widespread frosts overnight.

‘Further north it will start off fine and gradually get colder during the week.’

The Met Office said more settled weather is predicted during the week with temperatures rising to almost 70F, but chilly nights are expected with widespread frosts

The Met Office said more settled weather is predicted during the week with temperatures rising to almost 70F, but chilly nights are expected with widespread frosts

The rainy windy weather this weekend comes after blustery winds and heavy rain caused severe disruption for commuters after Storm Bronagh blew in with gusts of up to 76mph.

Bronagh brought heavy rain as it swept across the country a day after two people were killed during severe weather.

Sheffield saw nearly half a month’s rain fall in 24 hours, and images posted on social media showed flooding on a number of roads and at the city’s train station overnight.

What is the autumn equinox?

Tourists shelter under umbrellas as rain falls in central London on Saturday in the wake of Storm Bronagh. The weather is expected to brighten up this week

Tourists shelter under umbrellas as rain falls in central London on Saturday in the wake of Storm Bronagh. The weather is expected to brighten up this week

The autumn equinox falls on Sunday September 23 this year and marks the day when day and night are roughly equal length.

It is only a brief event as the sun passes over the earth’s equator and the date is not set in stone due to the earth’s irregular orbit around the sun- it normally occurs between September 22 and September 24.

As the Earth barrels through the solar system around the sun it is tilted towards or away from the sun, giving us our seasons.

But on the day of the equinox the earth’s axis is  perpendicular to the sun’s rays, giving an equal amount of day and night.

You might be thinking that autumn has already started. This is because meteorologists use September 1 as marking the first day of autumn.

The reason for this is it makes it easier to compare seasons and monthly statistics.

 

 

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