UK hit by 30,000 lightning strikes after hottest day of the year ends with intense storms

There has been flash flooding across the UK after major thunderstorms hit the UK overnight.

Severe weather warnings were issued by the Met Office ahead of the huge downpour which hit at about 10pm on Friday night.

More than 30,000 lightning strikes were recorded overnight – most of which struck over the sea – during the intense downpour which caused flash flooding, travel disruption, and blackouts.

It was an unpleasant end to the hottest day of the year so far, where a top temperature of 29°C was recorded following the UK baking in above-average temperatures throughout the week.

In Kent, homes were left underwater and one driver was left sitting on the roof of their car after getting stuck in floodwater.

Bus operator Stagecoach had to cancel buses between Dover and Canterbury due to ‘severe flooding’, and police were forced to close the A256.

Video shared on social media showed floodwater rushing through roads in central Dover, flooding cellars and basements.

One X user posted: ‘That storm was the worst one I’ve ever seen.

‘This area really got a direct hit. So much flooding across the Dover/Deal area and so many homes without power.”

Another said: ‘I’ve not seen rain like we’ve had tonight in a very long time.

‘Local roads flooded, people’s windows and doors leaking, and undoubtedly, storm overflows will mean sewage spills into the sea.’

UK weather warnings for Saturday, June 14

The storm system which pummeled the south and east of England overnight is pushing its way north west.

There are two yellow Met Office warnings for thunderstorms in place today, one covering a vast swathe of the west of England, all of Wales, and most of Scotland south of Inverness.

The second covers most of the east of Northern Ireland, from Portrush to Newry and encompassing Belfast and Armagh.

Both warnings are in place until 6pm on Saturday.

The Met Office says: ‘Areas of heavy rain and some thunderstorms will develop over Wales, western and northern England and Scotland on Saturday.

‘This area will gradually move northwards during the day with southern parts of the warning area improving though then with a risk of isolated smaller scale thunderstorms forming.

‘Rainfall will vary across the warning area and some places will avoid the heaviest rain.

‘However a corridor of 15-30mm of rain is likely with some areas perhaps seeing 30-50mm falling in a few hours.

‘Event rainfall could reach 60-80mm in some locations. Strong gusts and hail may also accompany some of the thunderstorms.’

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