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.”
Heavy rain begins in London
Torrential rain has begun in central London with some parts of the city already seeing distruptions.
Popular locations in the city such as Warren Street and Kentish Town are seeing heavy downpours with many struggling to shelter from the weather.
In Victoria Station, rainwater looks to have entered the busy station with commuters reporting flooding.
This comes after weeks of hot, dry conditions and the Met Office have both amber and yellow weather warnings in place across the south east of England for thunderstorms and floods.
Heavy downpours push across south east England
Heavy downpours of torrential rain have begun across south east England.
The Met Office has warned people to take extra care when going out and be aware of potential travel disruptions.
Amber and yellow weather warnings are in place throughout south east England, including locations such as London and Kent, as thunderstorms and floods pose ‘danger’ to life and are likely to cause power cuts and delays to public transport.
People criticise Thames Water hosepipe ban
After Thames Water announced a ban on the use of hosepipe for its 15 million customers, people have taken to social media to criticise the decision.
Some feel it was made too late, while others thing the private water company should be focusing on other issues, such as fixing leaks and damaged pipes which reportedly cause 635 million litres of wasted water daily, according to the Daily Mail.
The ban is set to begin from Wednesday 24 August.
Londoners shelter from torrential rain
Heavy rain has begun to hit London after weeks of hot, dry weather in the capital.
Parts of the city are experiencing torrential conditions and thunderstorms, with some commuters reporting floods in and around tube stations.
The Met Office have both amber and yellow weather warnings in place for thunderstorms and floods and are advising people to take extra care in such weather conditions.
Images show UK landscape scorched by heatwave
Images have shown the extent of the impact of Britain’s heatwave on natural landscapes.
Pictures taken in Cambridge show scorched, browned fields with little greenery following weeks of hot, dry weather.
While parts of the UK are expected to see heavy rainfall in the coming days, Cambridge is not forecast to be significantly impacted and there is currently no hosepipe ban in the area.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan urges Londoners to comply with hosepipe ban
London Mayor Sadiq Khan is urging Londoners to comply with the hosepipe ban announced by Thames Water.
In a tweet, he said: “I’m calling on Londoners to take steps to help save water through this drought.”
The ban is set to begin from Wednesday 24 August, impacting around 15 million customers in London and surrounding areas.
Stormy weather hits seafront in Sunderland
Stormy weather has caused dramatic scenes on Sunderland’s seafront, as huge waves crash into its pier.
Torrential rain and thunderstorms are forecast for parts of southern England, with northern areas experiencing relatively dry and mild weather in comparison.
On Thursday, north west England can expect outbreaks of rain after weeks of hot, dry weather.
Warmer weather forecast for next week
Warmer weather is forecast to return next week following torrential rain and thunderstorms.
High pressure is expected to bring in settled weather conditions for most, but the Met Office are assuring people that temperatures are unlikely to reach heatwave levels, as experienced in recent weeks.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Rudman said: “There’s broad agreement between our forecasting models for a return to more settled conditions for most through next week, with temperatures likely to be above average for most.
“Although it’s too early to put precise temperatures figures on it a week away, this high pressure is unlikely to see temperatures as high as the recent heatwave, but could still be warm for many.”
Unsettled weather to continue into weekend
The Met Office have warned that current unsettled weather conditions are likely to continue throughout the weekend.
Yellow and amber weather warnings are in place for thunderstorms across the south east of England, with disruption likely during Wednesday,
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Rudman said: “While there’s more detail to be determined into the weekend, the main theme for Saturday is unsettled spell of weather with some showers but also some sunny spells, while some gusty winds and more consistent rain could affect the northwest.
“Later in the weekend, and into early next week, a warm front is expected to move in from the Atlantic, which brings with it some further rain from the west, gradually spreading eastwards.
“The heaviest rain, and highest totals, are expected to be in western areas but as the front moves eastwards it should weaken, reducing any totals in these areas, and the southeast in particular could stay mostly dry.”
Yellow weather warning for thunderstorms worsens
The Met Office have revised their yellow weather warning, with thunderstorms now forecast to continue until midnight.
The majority of the south east of England, including London and Kent, can expect stormy and torrential rain throughout Wednesday after weeks of hot, dry weather.
People are being warned of flood risks, which pose a ‘danger to life’.
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