Hot weather across the UK sparks off heavy thunderstorms
Many parts of the UK have been enjoying summer-like weather over the past few days with temperatures into the high-20’s Celsius (low 80’s Fahrenheit).
High pressure centred over Scandinavia has been responsible for the warm spell of weather as southeasterly winds have been flowing off the near continent. Temperatures have been in the mid-20’s Celsius quite widely across the entire country. Yesterday the highest temperature was 27.3C (81F) at Herstmonceux, but the top temperature recorded so far since the warm spell began was 27.4C (81F) at Heathrow Airport on the 9 May.
The high ‘summer-like’ temperatures sparked off some severe thunderstorms across the country with flash flooding, frequent lightning and large hail being reported in southwest England, Wales and parts of Scotland.
Torrential rain gave nearly 25mm (1 inch) of water to parts of South Wales, and hailstones as large as 2cm (0.8 inches) fell near the border town of Chepstow. The storms developed late on Friday and early Saturday as a trough moved into the southwest of Britain.
Forecasters expect the very warm and sunny conditions to continue well into the new working week. However, a strengthening easterly breeze which will become more noticeable by next Tuesday may take the edge off the temperatures by a few degrees.
