Heavy rain has brought flash flooding and thunderstorms to the UK as forecasters warn of ‘danger to life’ after England endures scorching 93.2F (34C) heat – but experts warn that even three days of downpours will not fully relieve bone-dry Britain.
The Met Office has issued three days of alerts after weeks of soaring temperatures saw a drought declared across more than half of England.
However experts have warned that it will take ‘weeks’ of heavy rainfall to help parts of the country recover from the driest July on record, as the ground will struggle to absorb the water and surface run-off causes flooding.
Temperatures reached 93.2F (34C) on Sunday as the UK braces for three days of rain and yellow weather warnings. The Met Office said Charlwood, in Surrey, recorded the highest temperature with 93.4F (34.1C).
Thunderstorms are now expected in northern parts of the country, with the forecaster having issued a yellow weather warning from noon on Sunday through to midnight on Monday for most of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
It has also warned of ‘torrential rain’ that could cause flash flooding and power cuts while spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions for motorists.
This was escalated to an amber warning in parts of Northern Ireland, which states that ‘fast flowing or deep floodwater is likely — causing danger to life’.
The yellow warning then spreads to England and Wales on Monday and Tuesday, with just the south west and south east of England facing a third day of yellow warnings on Wednesday until midnight, as the rain eases off elsewhere.
Businesses and homes may be at risk of sudden flooding, with masses of water from rainfall able to cut off communities if it is heavy enough.
This flash flooding can be difficult to predict as it depends on how dry the soil is, and where in the area thunderstorms break, officials warned.
On Sunday, Inverness in Scotland was hit with heavy rainfall that caused flash flooding in a Tesco supermarket, and rain breaking through the ceiling in a Vue Cinema.
Customers were evacuated from the supermarket after water poured in through the ceiling. Videos on social media showed tiles on the ceiling falling to the floor and water pouring in, covering most of the floor in the supermarket.
The area was affected by heavy thunderstorms and torrential rain for most of the day.
It comes as several wildfires erupted across England in recent days amid the driest summer in half a century. With the ground in this state, there is a risk that ‘dry thunderstorms’ will cause more wildfires, Met Office officials told the Telegraph.
‘Dry thunderstorms’ occur when the rain evaporates before it hits the ground, with lightning striking the dry land and igniting flames.
Two women wade through flood water at a Tesco store in Inverness as heavy rain hits the area on Sunday
Water comes through the Tesco store in Inverness after heavy rainfall on Sunday afternoon
Rain pours through the ceiling in the Tesco store, after high temperatures
Water coming through the roof of the Vue Cinema in Inverness after heavy rainfall on Sunday afternoon
Rain pours through the ceiling in Vue Cinema in Inverness as visitors watch on from the sidelines
Darcie Bell pushed her brother Brogan through flood water outside the Matalan store in Inverness
The sky above the River Tay in Perth, Scotland, is lit up by a lightning storm on Sunday evening
An incident support vehicle splashes up flood water on a road in Inverness on Sunday afternoon
Heavy rain clouds hit Scotland on Sunday afternoon following high temperatures across the country
Pictures taken across the Scottish Highlands showed dark clouds growing as they rolled in over the water
Large puddles grew quickly on the streets as heavy rain came down fast on Sunday afternoon
A fire truck parks outside the Inverness Tesco store as it floods in heavy rain on Sunday
Heavy rain floods the roads in Inverness, Scotland, as the Met Office predicts flash flooding in parts of the country
A Tesco spokesperson said yesterday: ‘Our Inverness Inshes Extra store is temporarily closed while we assess some damage to the roof. We’re sorry for any inconvenience. We’re working to reopen as soon as possible.’
A car park close to the supermarket, located in the Inshes Retail Park, was also flooded, as was a nearby Vue cinema.
The yellow weather warning is expected to be in place until midnight on Monday. It follows temperatures reaching 30 degrees last week and red water shortage warnings being issued to parts of Fife and the Borders.
Pictures taken across the Scottish Highlands showed dark clouds growing as they rolled in, before pouring torrential rain on the area.
Droughts have been declared in eight areas and an amber warning for ‘extreme heat’ remains in place for large parts of the south, east, west, midlands and north of England until midnight.
And the Environment Agency has warned that this lack of water could continue into 2023 unless there is higher than average rainfall throughout autumn and winter.
Met Officer meteorologist Dan Stroud said that the air is becoming unstable as high pressure dominated the country.
‘We’ve had a number of days now where we’ve had clear, strong, clear skies and strong sunshine which has heated up the ground,’ the forecaster said.
‘We’ve had high pressure dominating, now we’re having low pressure dominate, so the air is becoming more unstable.
‘As we’ve had some very high ground temperatures, it doesn’t actually take too much for the air to become even more unstable and for thundery showers to develop quickly.’
The mercury could also dip as low as 9C (48F) over the next few days – just weeks after Britain recorded its hottest ever temperature of 40.3C (104.5F).
Holidaymakers and sunbathers pack the beach as they enjoy the scorching hot sunshine at the seaside resort of Weymouth in Dorset on Sunday
Beach-goers have been enjoying the final hours of the heatwave on the beach before thunderstorms are expected to move in with rainfall
Beach-goers having fun on pedalos at Weymouth beach in Dorset on Sunday as temperatures again soar up to 33C in southern areas
An amber warning for ‘extreme heat’ remains in place for large parts of the south, east, west, midlands and north of England until midnight. Pictured: Weymouth beach on Sunday
A boat lies in the dried up Huddersfield narrow canal near Linthwaite in the Colne Valley on Sunday amid the UK’s driest summer for 50 years
A man sunbathes in a nearly empty Greenwich Park in south London, as a drought has been declared for parts of England
People play Sunday league amateur football matches on parched grass pitches on the famous Hackney Marshes, London, during the heatwave on Sunday
The UK is enduring its driest summer for 50 years, with sports pitches becoming parched due to the severe lack of rainfall in recent weeks
Met Office forecaster Mr Stroud added: ‘We are moving away from the very hot and dry spell that we’ve been subject to into a much more showery regime. We’re likely to see some heavy and, at times, thundery showers.’
He said some places could face nearly two inches of rainfall, adding: ‘It’s going to be much appreciated by many people.’
However, he warned that the country needs an ‘average or slightly wetter than average winter’ to recover from the dry summer, claiming that any rain this week will serve only as a ‘short, sharp shock’.
John Curtin, a director at the Environment Agency, said: ‘We’ll need probably average or slightly above average rainfall this autumn into this winter for us to not be in a drought next year.’ It comes after the driest first half of the year since 1976 saw green spaces left parched reservoirs completely dried up.
Three water companies – Welsh Water, Southern Water, and South East Water – have imposed hosepipe bans. Yorkshire Water has said it will introduce one on August 26 and Thames Water is also planning a ban in the coming weeks.
Ministers are also said to be considering plans for a multi-billion-pound water ‘grid’ to guard against future droughts. A huge pipeline could be built to link rainy regions of Britain with dry areas amid fears this summer’s conditions could become more frequent.
People walk past the Queen’s House and Old Naval College, in Greenwich Park, London
Festival goers at Boardmasters 2022 in Newquay, Cornwall, on Sunday waking up to another day of scorching heat as temperatures are set to reach 33C
People gather in the hot weather at Southend-on-Sea beach, as a drought is declared for parts of England following the driest summer for 50 years
Beachgoers play in the sea in Southend-on-Sea beach on Sunday, August 14
A swimmer flips into the water at Southend-on-Sea beach on Sunday, August 14
Crowds pack out the beach at Southend-on-Sea as they enjoy the warm temperatures on Sunday
People play Sunday league amateur football matches on parched grass pitches at Hackney Marshes, London
People play a Sunday league amateur football match on a parched grass pitch during a heatwave, at Hackney Marshes in London
A woman walks with a dog as people play Sunday league amateur football matches at Hackney Marshes, London
A walker shields himself with an umbrella from the heat of the sun as he walks through an area of grass in Southampton that set a light over the weekend
Josh Saint, 27, is part of hundreds of riders and ponies descending into the river near Balmer Lawn in Brockenhurst, late Sunday afternoon as they took part in the biggest horse drive in England
Joanne Weatherby, 40, smiles at her horse as she joins hundreds for The Danny Cooper New Forest Drive
Ellie Bowers, 17, is part of the The Danny Cooper New Forest Drive, a traditional family event that sees hundreds of riders in the travelling community make their way across the New Forest in convoy to raise money for charity
Riders and their horses join together for the biggest horse drive in England on Sunday afternoon
Ellie Bowers, 17, joins hundreds of riders in the travelling community making their way across the New Forest in convoy
Greg Dewhurst, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said the week would start off quite humid before cooling down later on.
He said: ‘We’ll start off initially quite humid, particularly across the south and the east of the UK, with thundery showers and sunny spells, but it will gradually become cooler and fresher as the week goes on.
‘First half of the week, we’re looking at some heavy downpours and thunderstorms developing.
‘You can sort of see that sort of transition coming in from the north, it’s day by day.
‘It’s still hot today, we’re looking at highs around 31C, possibly 32C, and then it starts to come down.
‘As we head towards Tuesday, temperatures are around 26C or 27C. Wednesday Thursday will be the mid 20s.
‘So probably today is the last day where we’ll see temperatures above 30C for the rest of the week.’
Drivers have been urged to drive carefully amid predictions of flash flooding.
Simon Williams, RAC’s road safety expert, said: ‘When roads or conditions have been so dry, flash floods are going to appear and cause a danger to drivers.
‘There’s a risk of aquaplaning as the water won’t drain away quite as quickly. The risk of slipping and sliding is also greater.
‘Make sure you’ve got good tread on your tyres and they’re properly inflated, because the tread is the only thing that keeps you in contact with the road. Also, leave plenty of space between your car and the car in front.’
A spokesman for the AA also warned about slippery surfaces on the roads as a result of rubber build-up from tyres.
The sun rises over the countryside in Dunsden, Oxfordshire, on Sunday morning as temperatures are forecast to again soar above 30C
Met Officer meteorologist Dan Stroud said the weather will remain dry across the south, with thunderstorms expected in northern areas
Hot air balloons fly over fields across the North Somerset landscape early on Sunday morning as parts of the south brace for 33C temperatures
The mass ascent this morning forms part of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022, with clear skies on Sunday providing spectacular views
Data collected from more than 18 water companies, including Thames Water, Severn Trent Water, United Utilities and Welsh Water, showed that sites ranging from Oxfordshire and London, to Warwickshire, had no water or poor pressure
A picturesque sky in Dunsden, Oxfordshire, on Sunday morning as the UK heatwave goes out with a bang when thunderstorms arrive
Searing temperatures this week have already central reservation barriers along a stretch of the A63 in Yorkshire (pictured) to buckle
Safety barriers on the A63 in East Yorkshire appear to have buckled in the heat, with the ordinarily straight central reservations having bent towards each other
Meanwhile two people are missing after getting into difficulty in rivers in England during the hot weekend weather.
Temperatures soared to 93.2F (34C) on Saturday and Sunday as the spate of sunny and hot weather continued across the UK.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue service said they received reports at 6:37pm on Sunday of a man missing near the Weir at Stoke Bardolph.
Eight crews were sent to find the man and the incident has now been handed over to the police.
A search is also under way for a man in the River Thames after he was reported getting into difficulty in the water.
The Metropolitan Police said that a ‘multi-agency response’ was in operation after they received reports of the man in the water at Hampton Court at 4.12pm on Sunday.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: ‘Officers from the Met and Surrey Police, the National Police Air Service, as well as the London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and RNLI, began searching the river.
‘However, despite the best efforts of everyone involved the man has not been found.
‘Efforts to inform all of his next of kin are ongoing while work to recover the man continues.’
The Met Office said Charlwood in Surrey, south east England, recorded the highest temperature at 34.9C on Sunday.
An official drought was declared in eight areas of England on Friday by the National Drought Group (NDG), which comprises representatives from the Government, water companies, the Environment Agency (EA) and others.
Three water companies — Welsh Water, Southern Water, and South East Water — have all imposed hosepipe bans, while Yorkshire Water has announced a ban will start on August 26 and Thames Water is planning one in the coming weeks.
And Cornwall will be joining the other regions, with its first ban in 27 years.
South West Water is planning the hosepipe restriction in Cornwall and part of north-west Devon — resulting in around eight million people living under a ban.
Mr Stroud said that despite the forecast of intense showers over the next few days, it is unlikely to help the drought.
‘It will help a little but to be honest really, it’s almost the wrong sort of rain,’ he said.
‘What we’re likely to see is some heavy, intense downpours. With the ground baked so dry, it’s very difficult for the ground to actually absorb the water very quickly.
‘So what tends to happen in these circumstances is the water runs off and we can potentially get some surface run-off issues, so some flash floods.’
It comes after a body was found in a Doncaster lake on Saturday after emergency services rushed to reports that a man in his 20s had got into difficulty in water.
Emergency services were called to Lakeside lake at around 4.10pm yesterday, according to South Yorkshire Police.
Little over two hours later, a teenage boy went missing in the sea at Skegness.
Emergency services rushed to reports that ‘a child under 16’ was in the water at around 6.15pm on Saturday.
A search was carried out by police officers and the coastguard, before the boy’s body was tragically recovered at around 11.30pm last night.
Elsewhere, searing temperatures this week have already central reservation barriers along a stretch of the A63 in Yorkshire to buckle.
Pictures taken on Thursday from the Water Lane Bridge, in South Cave, show stretches of the ordinarily straight barriers with large kinks and bends.
The barriers were installed on the dual carriageway earlier during the winter between junction 38 of the M62 and South Cave.
A spokesperson for National highways told the BBC that the buckling may have been caused by ground conditions, but added that the heatwave was ‘not being ruled out’.
Network Rail has advised passengers to check journeys are running but has reassured them there are no major disruptions expected.
The hot weather has already seen several wildfires erupt across England, with the latest blaze breaking out in the North York Moors National Park.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were called to the blaze on Saturday evening shortly after 6pm in Sutton Bank and firefighters worked through the night to dampen down the grass to prevent further spread.
There have been 150 wildfires in the past week alone.
More than 90 firefighters tackled a blaze on the Studland peninsula in Purbeck, Dorset, this weekend, which was believed to have been caused by a barbeque.
The weather warning means heat-related illnesses including sunburn and heat exhaustion are ‘likely’ among the general population, while delays to public transport are also ‘possible’.
Mr Stroud has said there remains a risk of further wildfires, too.
He added: ‘It has been extremely dry for an extended period and the ground and vegetation has been baked dry, so there is a significant risk.’
An official drought was declared in eight areas of England on Friday by the National Drought Group (NDG), which comprises representatives from the Government, water companies, the Environment Agency (EA) and others.
And the drought could persist into next year, the EA has said.
Jersey Water urged residents not to use hosepipes and sprinklers after the island, some 85 miles south of the English coast, reached its second ‘absolute drought’ of 2022 after more than 15 days without rain on August 5.
According to the firm, the demand for water during the week reached around 22 million litres of water per day, around 2.5 million more compared to the same period last year.
John Curtin, executive director for local operations at the EA, also said it will take ‘weeks’ worth of rain’ to replenish water sources.
On Saturday, residents in Surrey and West Sussex were without water after issues hit the Netley Mill Water Treatment Works.
Water supplier Thames Water apologised and handed out bottled water to residents in Guildford, Surrey Hills, Dorking and Horsham while engineers worked to restore the supply.
By Sunday morning the problem had been fixed, with residents being told water was ‘gradually returning to the area’.
But Surrey county councillor Liz Townsend slammed the water firm for the supply issues during one of the hottest weekends of the year.
She told BBC Breakfast yesterday: ‘This is happening more and more now with warm weather. We had this problem last year as well here.
‘And to be honest, the service is not fit for purpose now and residents are rightly getting very, very annoyed about what they’re having to put up with.’
She added that Thames Water ‘failed this time to meet the needs of the vulnerable as well in and around Cranleigh and Ewhurst’ after she received messages from elderly people saying they had not been delivered any water.’
A drive-through water collection point in Haddenham, Cambridgeshire, on Sunday as the village suffered it fourth day of water problems
The water supply was cut off to households in the village and the surrounding area on Thursday following a mains pipe burst. There have been intermittent faults since
A hot air balloon flies over the North Somerset countryside as part of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022 on Sunday morning
Nine fire crews attended a wildfire in a field near Newhall, Harlow, where they were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to a nearby woodland and homes
People making the most of the weather at Helens Bay Beach in Northern Ireland on Saturday, where it reached highs of 25C (77F)
A statement from Thames Water said: ‘Netley Mill Water Treatment Works is now back in service and supply is gradually being restored to the local network. This will continue over the remainder of the day.
‘We are very sorry that customers have been impacted especially at a time of high temperatures.
‘When supplies do begin to return, we are asking customers to try to use this just for essential use initially. This will help us return supplies to everyone quicker.
‘We are supplying bottled water to customers who we know need additional help. If anyone is unable to travel to a bottled water site they should contact us on 0800 316 9800 and we will provide assistance.’
A drive-through water collection point was also been set up in Haddenham, Cambridgeshire, on Sunday as the village faced a fourth day of supply problem.
A mains pipe burst on Thursday caused water supply to be cut off to households in the village and its surrounding areas.
It was restored on Friday morning, but there were intermittent faults all weekend.
Anglian Water has set up a drive through so villagers can pick up water supplies within their cars with the help of the firm’s staff.
Forecasts of rain will be well-received by many amid the drought and scorched surfaces across the UK.
But the incoming thunderstorms may not help alleviate drought conditions as the parched ground doesn’t easily absorb water, instead it tends to run off the surface.
This means the rainfall is transported quickly into streams and rivers and increases the chance of a flash flood.
On Friday night, fire crews in Derbyshire tackled a huge blaze with four fire engines attending the scene in Creswell, Worksop.
Footage shared online showed flames filling the horizon and large plumes of smoke in the sky above a residential area.
Dartford Heath in Kent was also alight as a result of scorching heat on Saturday, with temperatures reaching highs of 34C (93.2F) in the local area.
And in Dorset, a team of firefighters worked through the night to bring a wildfire at Studland under control, which was believed to have been sparked by a disposable barbecue.
Dorset Police said yesterday that firefighters had discovered an unexploded piece of ammunition believed to date to the Second World War on the scorched heathland.
The force said a bomb disposal unit would be attending and warned the public in the surrounding area they may hear a loud bang as they dispose of the device.
It comes as Dorset Police appealed for anyone with any information about the cause of a large heath fire in Poole on August 4 to come forward.
Witnesses saw three young boys on bicycles making off from the scene at Upton Heath at about 2.30pm.
The fire had a ‘significant’ impact on the community, and took firefighters several hours to put out.
It comes after beach-goers flocked to Brighton and Bournemouth yesterday as temperatures reached 35C.
Meanwhile, pre-season rugby games were forced to be cancelled because the surfaces are unplayable after weeks without rain.
The pitches have burned out and crusted over, making them rock hard and bringing an element of risk as it increases the chances of players suffering injuries.
The Football Supporters’ Association also urged clubs change their rules to helps of fans during the scorching afternoon in the stands.