Massive lightning activity across southern regions
Around 29,000 lightning flashes were recorded overnight across southern England, according to the Met Office. The storms moved in from the south west on Monday evening and shifted towards the south east during the night. Many residents were woken by loud thunder and bright lightning across the sky.
Emergency services respond to widespread disruption
London Fire Brigade handled about 400 emergency calls overnight. Two house fires are believed to have been caused by lightning strikes. In Bristol, another house caught fire during the storm earlier in the evening. Authorities also reported travel delays and disruption in several areas due to flooding and storm conditions.
Flash flooding and heavy rainfall reported
Some regions experienced very heavy rain within a short time. This led to flash flooding in multiple locations. Roads became difficult to use, and transport services faced interruptions as water levels rose quickly.
Why the storms became so intense
The storms formed after a very hot day across southern England. Temperatures reached the high 20s and low 30s Celsius. The heat stored energy in the atmosphere, which later fueled strong thunderclouds.
An upper atmospheric disturbance acted as a trigger. It released this built up energy, which led to powerful cumulonimbus clouds, lightning activity, and heavy rainfall.
Rare weather warning as heat intensifies
The UK is also facing a rare red weather alert as temperatures are expected to climb up to 40C later in the week. Officials warn that extreme heat combined with unstable air could continue to cause further storms.
