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Torrential rain brings widespread flooding in south-east England EU referendum voters wade through water as floods hit south-east
(about 2 hours later)
Torrential downpours and flooding have swamped parts of London and the south-east in the early hours of EU referendum day, leading to the fire brigade being inundated with more than 300 emergency calls. People heading to polling stations to vote in the EU referendum have had to wade through deep waters, as torrential rain fell on parts of London and the south-east, causing severe travel delays and flooded homes.
Related: Voting begins in EU referendum as polls say result too close to callRelated: Voting begins in EU referendum as polls say result too close to call
Red “immediate action” flood warnings were issued for parts of south-east London and Essex as parts of the capital were expected to see a month’s rainfall in a matter of hours. London fire brigade said it had dealt with a day’s worth of calls in just 90 minutes, including buildings struck by lightning and flooded shops and homes.
London fire brigade said it received a day’s worth of calls in just an hour and a half to reports of weather-related incidents, including lightning striking property, flooded homes and businesses, and rising waters trapping vehicles. “Between around 1.30am and 3am our control officers took over 300 calls – around as many as they would receive in an average day,” a spokesman said.
There were reports of flooded streets as storms swept through, threatening disruption as voters head to polling stations. The Environment Agency issued four flood warnings covering rivers in Bromley, Sidcup and Basildon, and 22 flood alerts across the south-east, with the showers expected to ease off mid-morning and intensify again during the afternoon.
300 '999' calls as we attend floods & lightning strikes in #londonstorm https://t.co/wtHRVVOOhG pic @globalsnewsroom pic.twitter.com/aYjMhhqf6H Voters on social media described rain seeping into polling stations, with one voter in Chessington describing how she had to be carried over rivers of water.
The storm caused major disruption to London’s travel network, causing problems for thousands of commuters during the morning rush hour. Several tube stations, including Embankment, Tooting Broadway, Lambeth North, Borough and Canning Town, were closed due to flooding in the early morning. Another said she had seen voters “rolling up trousers and removing shoes to wade barefoot through dirty water” to get in to vote.
Over 1000 #Lightning strikes around the UK already today. Alex D pic.twitter.com/wFH01cJ1Hk Kingston council has closed one of its polling stations, in Devon Way, due to flooding, telling voters to go to the Hook Centre instead.
Some have raised fears that driving rain could affect turnout, though many others reporting long queues at polling stations, despite the wet weather.
However, across the rest over the country, especially northern England and southern Scotland, voters are enjoying balmy weather, with sunshine and temperatures up to 20C, so the weather is unlikely to affect turnout in the majority of the nation.
The deluge caused several tube stations across London Underground to close due to flooding during the morning rush hour, including Embankment, Tooting Broadway, Lambeth North, Borough and Canning Town.
The District line on the tube, the Docklands Light Railway and the London overground network were all suspended or delayed because of flooding.The District line on the tube, the Docklands Light Railway and the London overground network were all suspended or delayed because of flooding.
Gatwick Express southbound services have also been suspended. 300 '999' calls as we attend floods & lightning strikes in #londonstorm https://t.co/wtHRVVOOhG pic @globalsnewsroom pic.twitter.com/aYjMhhqf6H
South West Trains, Southern and TFL Rail are also suffering major delays because of the storms, with problems also reported on Greater Anglia services. On the rail networks into the captial, Gatwick Express southbound services were suspended, and delays and cancellations meant misery for commuters on South West Trains, Southern and Greater Anglia services.
Greater Anglia have asked customers not to travel into London unless absolutely necessary because of heavy rain flooding the railway at Manor Park in east London, causing severe delays and cancellations of services into Liverpool Street from towns including Norwich, Ipswich and Colchester.
Train travel from Southern rail was most severely affected because of the flooded line at Wandsworth Common, with disruption likely to continue until the end of services on Thursday night.
Picture of the heavy flooding currently blocking the lines at #ManorPark pic.twitter.com/TdxHApMJPTPicture of the heavy flooding currently blocking the lines at #ManorPark pic.twitter.com/TdxHApMJPT
Drivers in rush hour also experienced severe delays reaching the capital, with the Blackwall tunnel shut earlier on Thursday morning. Two out of four lines through the area have now re-opened, Southern Rail said, but flooding is also affecting lines from Redhill to Tonbridge and the Milton Keynes route through Imperial Wharf.
Many of London’s roads were affected by localised flooding, including the North Circular, which was closed at Waltham Forest. Flooding has affected the signalling system into London Victoria, with many Southeastern and South West trains cancelled. Southeastern said any services that were able to run might be subject to considerable delay.
An LFB spokesman said: “Crews are being mobilised to incidents as quickly as possible but the brigade is appealing to people to only call 999 in an emergency – where there is a risk to life or property.
#BlackwallTunnel is currently CLOSED northbound due to flooding. Drivers are advised to seek an alternative route. pic.twitter.com/uzcKd3exYB
Related: Flooding in south-east England: are you being affected?Related: Flooding in south-east England: are you being affected?
“Between around 1.30am and 3am our control officers took over 300 calls – around as many as they would receive in an average day.” South West trains said that due to heavy rain, water levels in Fulwell tunnel in south-west London have gone above the top of the rail, meaning it is not possible to run trains through the affected area. Trains that normally run between Waterloo and Weybridge via Staines are unable to run, because of lightning damage to rail lines.
In just one hour, 20.5mm of rain fell in Bexley, south-east London, close to half the June average, with some parts expected to see multiple showers bringing a month’s rain on Thursday morning. Drivers in rush hour also experienced severe delays reaching the capital, with the Blackwall tunnel shut earlier on Thursday morning and the North Circular closed at Waltham Forest.
The Environment Agency has issued four flood warnings covering rivers in Bromley, Sidcup and Basildon, and 22 flood alerts across the south-east. Roads in Battersea in south-west London, Barking in east London and Lewisham were under several inches of water on Thursday morning, flowing up to knee-height and into ground floor homes in the Longbridge Road area of Barking.
Showers are expected to ease by 10am on Thursday morning before returning with similar intensity from 2pm.
The Met Office issued an amber “be prepared” warning of rain for parts of Kent, Sussex and Surrey effective until 6am on Thursday, while a yellow warning covering the south-east is in place until 6am on Friday.
Heavy rain continuing across parts of the SE & E Anglia, leading to some tricky travelling conditions #londonstorm pic.twitter.com/dTfd2aNxGG
Forecaster Luke Miall said: “If you draw a line from the Wash to the Isle of Portland, everything east of that is in the firing line.
“A band of showers is coming across the English Channel and moving north-eastwards that will bring some heavy downpours and localised surface flooding. There’s going to be a bit of hail in there too, so there’s quite a lot going on.
“If you’re in the south-east, you definitely need your umbrella and possibly a pair of wellington boots.”
There were reports of flooded streets across the capital, with roads in Battersea in south-west London, Barking in east London and Lewisham under several inches of water.
Flood waters rose steadily after heavy rain began to fall after midnight, eventually flowing at knee height into ground-floor homes on one street.
Louise March tweeted that there was serious flooding in the Longbridge Road area of Barking and she was concerned over her property insurance.
She wrote: “I saw a car under water people helping to push it out of the water; never seen this in the 15 years I’ve lived here.”
Zanna van Dijk, a fitness blogger and trainer, filmed flood waters lapping at the doors of buildings in Lambeth.
The inclement weather is expected to be contained in the south-east, with much of the country seeing spells of fine and settled weather on Thursday.
Temperatures are expected to rise up to 20C (68F) across Wales and the north of England and southern Scotland, although Northern Ireland and the Western Isles could see some showers.
Conditions are expected to improve for most on Friday, although showers will develop across western parts later on.