UK weather: Met Office warns thunderstorms 'could cause danger to life' as heatwave causes travel chaos - as it happened

Record temperatures, lightning, flash flooding and large hailstones were all predicted

UK weather: The latest Met Office forecast

The Met Office warned heavy thunderstorms could cause danger to life as well as sudden flooding and powercuts.

It issued an amber alert for parts of England – a step up from yellow – with intense storms looking set to bring the British heatwave to an end.

Torrential downpours are possible, with as much as 30mm of rainfall in one hour and 60mm in three hours, while large hail, frequent lightning and strong, gusty winds will be additional hazards, forecasters warned.

Those in the areas covered by the warnings were told to expect flooding of homes and businesses, which could happen quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater.

“Fast flowing or deep floodwater is likely, causing danger to life,” the Met Office said of the areas covered by the amber warning.

Delays or cancellations on transport, difficult driving conditions and power cuts are also possibilities.

Thursday saw the highest temperature recorded in the UK since 2015, with Faversham in Kent hitting 35.3C.

Temperatures were predicted to soar even further on Friday but the Met Office said provisional figures indicated the highest was 34.7C at Tibenham Airfield in Norfolk.

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A mix of toxic air, extreme highs, emissions from the continent and a lack of cloud cover caused a “high” air pollution alert to be issued for London on Thursday.

Meanwhile authorities said the heatwave was causing “winter conditions” in parts of the NHS, while nursing unions warned that many of their members were dizzy and exhausted.

Fire brigades also called for a ban on barbecues in parks and drivers were urged not to throw rubbish following a string of grassland fires in recent weeks.

And passengers on the Eurotunnel endured five-hour delays as air conditioned units failed while commuters on London’s Underground travelled in temperatures above the legal limit for transporting livestock.

As northern Europe swelters in a prolonged heatwave, scientists have warned climate change is making such heat extremes more likely.

Additional reporting by agencies

Key Points

• Temperature records could tumble before huge thunderstorms strike Britain
• Motorists warned to expect travel disruption
• Heatwave was made twice as likely because of climate change, scientists conclude

[27 July 2018 03:10 · Tom Barnes]

A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms has now been issued for Northern Ireland on Saturday. 

[27 July 2018 11:51 · Samuel Osborne]

It is hot.

Welcome to The Independent's live blog on the sweltering heatwave causing havoc across Britain, brought to you from our air conditioned office in London.

Today could see the most intense conditions yet, with forecasted highs of 37C potentially accompanied by thunderstorms.

There is also a chance the all-time UK record of 38.5C could be broken.

[27 July 2018 11:53 · Samuel Osborne]

[27 July 2018 11:58 · Samuel Osborne]

Rail services across Yorkshire have been disrupted after lightning strikes damaged signalling. 

Lightning has also hit several houses, causing damage. There have been no reports of any injuries.

[27 July 2018 12:03 · Samuel Osborne]

[27 July 2018 12:07 · Samuel Osborne]

[27 July 2018 12:17 · Samuel Osborne]

Motorists have been warned ahead of lightning, flash flooding and large hailstones which could hit eastern parts of Britain on Friday afternoon, with a thunderstorm warning in place for the afternoon until just before midnight.

[27 July 2018 12:23 · Samuel Osborne]

Thursday saw the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures of 35C recorded at Heathrow.

A mix of toxic air, extreme highs, emissions from the continent and a lack of cloud cover caused a "high" air pollution alert to be issued for London.

Meanwhile authorities said the heatwave was causing "winter conditions" in parts of the NHS, while many nurses were said to be dizzy and exhausted.

Fire brigades also called for a ban on BBQs in parks and drivers were urged not to throw rubbish following a string of grassland fires in recent weeks.

And passengers on the Eurotunnel endured five-hour delays as air conditioned units failed while commuters on London's Underground travelled in temperatures above the legal limit for transporting livestock.

[27 July 2018 12:32 · Samuel Osborne]

Here's the Met Office's forecast from this morning.

[27 July 2018 12:39 · Samuel Osborne]

Police forces have been called following concerns for people's welfare at rivers and a lake during the heatwave.

Thames Valley Police said a man's body was recovered from the Jubilee River in Slough, adding that his death is not being treated as suspicious.

Warwickshire Police officers remain at the Bishops Bowl Lakes area in Bishops Itchington following a report of a 17-year-old boy going into the water on Thursday evening.

Police were called at around 6.30pm after concerns were raised for the boy, and specialist water rescue teams, as well as fire and ambulance crews, are in the area with searches being carried out.

Essex Police said the search for a teenager who was last seen in water near Clacton Pier on Thursday evening resumed on Friday morning.

The force was called amid concerns for the welfare of two teenage boys and were on the scene just after 6.35pm.

One boy was rescued by a lifeboat crew, checked over by medical teams and reunited with his family, but the second remains unaccounted for.