Muggy heat is making Britain steamier than sweaty Singapore, with over three inches’ rain due in parts yesterday, with more thundery washouts for many areas today
Get your brolly out(Image: Rick Findler / Story Picture Agency)
Britain is in the thunderdome with six days of thunderstorms as staycationers are walloped by a month-and-a-half’s rain in three hours as school holidays start. It was brolly bad news as rain hit the summer getaway after weeks of dry weather. Families cursed traditional British weather returning for the busiest week of the year for staycations with millions off work and kids off school.
Many were caught up in jams on wet roads. But sunseekers are still making the most of cloudbreaks. Muggy heat is making Britain steamier than sweaty Singapore, with over three inches’ rain due in parts yesterday, with more thundery washouts for many areas today.
The Environment Agency issued 30 flood alerts and warnings. Thunderstorm warnings began on Thursday, with the Met Office warning of lightning strikes and spells of heavy rain continuing until Tuesday.
Very, very wet(Image: The Environment Agency )
Humidity this afternoon will hit 59%, rising to 93% tonight, both higher than Singapore. But determined families still hit the beach between showers.
Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said: “Heavy, thundery rain is feeding up from the south. It’s pretty widespread across much of the country through Saturday, and into Sunday.”
The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “The weekend and early next week looks very wet in places. There is the potential for an extended period of thundery weather.”
Very British, very wet(Image: NB PRESS LTD)
And for Monday, the official Met Office weather warning states: “Scattered heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected during Monday, especially during the afternoon and early evening. While many will miss the worst conditions, a few places could see 30-50 mm of rain within a couple of hours.
“Heavy downpours of rain will be the primary hazard but lightning strikes are also likely along with the potential for hail. There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater or lightning strikes.
“There is a small chance that some communities become cut off by flooded roads. Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services.
“There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost. There is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life”
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