UK weather – live: London's Victoria station floods amid 'danger to life' storm warning
Tube stations closed across capital as transport network overwhelmed by heavy rain
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Parts of London are experience flash flooding as thunderstorms overwhelm the country’s parched landscape with heavy rain.
London’s Victoria Station was partially flooded as several tube stations were forced to close as they were overwhelmed by run-off from torrential rain.
Footage from around the capital showed commuters contending with deep pools of water that had collected on roads around the evening rush hour.
The Met Office issued both yellow and amber weather warnings for thunderstorms covering southeast England and south Wales.
Dan Suri, forecaster for the Met Office, said: “With no meaningful rainfall in some southern locations since June, soils in these areas have become baked by the sun turning them into hard almost impenetrable surfaces.
“Any rainfall in these areas won’t be able to soak away and instead it will wash off soils and other hard surfaces, creating flash flooding in some areas.”
Mudslide closes Somerset road – Pictures
The A358 in Somerset remains closed near Combe Florey following a mud slide yesterday.
Flash floods after days without rain caused the road block in the Taunton area of the southwestern county.
Southwest floods for second day running
Roads in southwest England have flooded as heavy rain and thunderstorms hit parts of the UK for the second day running.
Footage and photos shared to social media show torrential showers and flooding on roads in Cornwall and Devon.
Tourists drenched in London downpour – In pictures
Photos have just dropped from the heavy downpour in London today:
Just one foot of water can float a car – EA
A car can float in just one foot of flowing water, the Environment Agency said as it warned drivers against taking risks in floodwater.
Stefan Laeger, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said the situation was being closely monitored as thunderstorms sweep in across the country.
He said teams were ready to respond to surface water flooding incidents but urged people to take caution if they have to leave home during treacherous conditions.
To drivers, he said: “We urge people not to drive though flood water – it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.”
RAC advice for driving in floods and heavy rain is as follows:
- Slow down
- Use dipped headlights so that other drivers can see you more easily
- Don’t use rear fog lights as they can mask your brake lights
- Look out for large or fast-moving vehicles which will create spray and reduce visibility
- Keep your air conditioning on to stop your windows from misting up
- Listen out for local news bulletins
- If you break down in torrential rain keep the bonnet closed while waiting for help to arrive, to avoid the electrical system getting soaked
- Driving too fast through standing water could lead to tyres losing contact with the road. If your steering suddenly feels light you could be aquaplaning. To regain grip, ease off the accelerator, do not brake and allow your speed to reduce until you gain full control of the steering again
- Be considerate
Drought declared in Yorkshire
A drought has been declared in Yorkshire, the Environment Agency has said.
The region joins eight areas of England which were moved into drought status on Friday, including parts of London, Kent and the east Midlands.
Victoria Slingsby, environment planning and engagement manager for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire, said: “The high temperatures we are experiencing have exacerbated pressures on wildlife and our water environment in Yorkshire. These extreme weather conditions become more likely with climate change.
“We are experiencing some much-needed rain this week, but it will not be enough to correct weeks of dry weather, and it will take more prolonged rainfall to wet up soils and replenish rivers, reservoirs and groundwater levels.
“It's important for everyone to manage the amount of water they are using in this exceptionally dry period.”
A hosepipe ban is set to effect across Yorkshire on 26 August.
What is thunderstorm asthma? Warning over ‘rare phenomenon’ as UK hit by dramatic weather change
Thunderstorms are sweeping the UK this week, a dramatic end to the prolonged stretch of extremely hot and dry weather (Zoe Tidman writes).
The three-day Met Office weather warning highlights the risk of potential flash floods, power cuts and travel disruption across much of the country as the heavy rain hits.
But experts also warn there could be a rare health risk during the stormy weather, in the form of “thunderstorm asthma”.
This is where thunderstorm activity is linked to a rise in people reporting symptoms of asthma - such as in June last year – the UK Health and Security Agency explains.
Warning over ‘rare phenomenon’ thunderstorm asthma as UK hit by dramatic weather
The Met Office issued three day thunderstorm warning for most of the UK, raising concerns over impact for hayfever and asthma sufferers
Transport disruption as heavy rains fall on Scotland
Rail passengers and motorists are facing travel disruption following heavy rain in Scotland.
ScotRail warned passengers to expect delays on some routes as some speed restrictions are in place due to heavy rainfall over the last few days.
Meanwhile in Perth, Network Rail said it was dealing with flooding at the station.
Speed restrictions were put in place on the Perth to Dunkeld, Larbert to Stirling and Gleneagles to Perth area and on the Alloa branch line.
Trains were limited to 40mph, or 20mph if the usual speed limit is lower.
On the roads, Traffic Scotland warned that surface water was affecting many routes and urged motorists to take care.
Simple video experiment shows how droughts increase flash flooding risk
With nothing more than three cups of water, a UK scientist has clearly illustrated how drought conditions can heighten the risk of flash flooding once rain does start to fall (Harry Cockburn writes).
In the experiment, Dr Robert Thompson from the University of Reading’s Meteorology Department, filmed himself at different times of year turning a clear plastic cup full of water upside down onto the same bit of ground.
The footage clearly reveals how weather conditions affect the absorption rate of water.
Climate change makes flash flooding more likely, say campaigners
Environmental campaigners have highlighted the role of climate change in the storms brewing around Britain – the country’s latest extreme weather event which comes after a series of unprecedented heatwaves.
Paul de Zylva from Friends of the Earth said: “Heavy rain and flash flooding are likely to become more frequent as a result of climate change.
“We desperately need a period of sustained rainfall to help restore the UK’s dry and wildlife depleted rivers and reservoirs and protect our food supplies, but the ground is so parched that heavy rain will have difficulty soaking in and will instead wash away soils and cause flooding.
“The government, and next prime minister, must do more to protect people by adapting our homes and infrastructure to extreme weather and take the bold action needed to help avert the worst of climate breakdown.”
Scientists have repeatedly warned that climate change has influenced recent periods of extreme weather in Britain and around the world.
Drought conditions can lead to an increased risk of flooding when rain finally returns as dry ground does not absorb water as easily.
Sixteen flood alerts in place for England
Sixteen flood alerts are in place across England as heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected.
The alerts cover areas of south London, Surrey, Norfolk, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
List in full:
- Beverley Brook area in Merton, Sutton, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond upon Thames and Wandsworth
- Bottle Brook in Derbyshire
- Loughborough urban watercourses and local tributaries to the River Soar
- Ravensbourne area in the London Boroughs of Lewisham, Bromley, Greenwich and Croydon
- River Erewash Tributaries in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
- River Hogsmill area from Ewell to Kingston upon Thames
- River Leen, Day Brook and Tottle Brook in Nottinghamshire
- River Maun in Nottinghamshire
- River Rythe from Oxshott to Thames Ditton
- River Trent Tributaries in Nottinghamshire
- River Wandle area in the London Boroughs of Wandsworth, Merton, Lambeth, Croydon and Sutton
- Shuttle and Cray
- The north Norfolk coast from East Cley to Kelling Hard, including Salthouse
- The north Norfolk coast from Old Hunstanton, to and including Cley
- Tributaries in North Derbyshire
- Tributaries in South Derbyshire
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