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Amber thunderstorm warning in force after UK's hottest day Yellow weather warning for UK after flooding and lightning strikes
(about 2 hours later)
A woman enjoys the sunshine at the US Embassy Park in London More than 30,000 lightning strikes were recorded overnight up to 06:00 on Saturday, the Met Office says
An amber weather warning for thunderstorms came into force for parts of eastern and south-eastern England on Friday night, as the UK had its warmest day of the year so far. More than 30,000 lightning strikes were recorded overnight after thunderstorms swept across parts of England, the Met Office has said.
Thunderstorms are also expected to lash across other parts of the country, with a yellow warning issued for most parts over the weekend. Yellow weather warnings for rain and thunderstorms remain in place for Wales, western and northern England, Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland on Saturday.
The Met Office has warned flooding of homes and power cuts are likely, as are cancellations to train and bus services and difficult road conditions. The vast majority of the lightning struck over the sea, however, torrential downpours also hit land, causing disruption in Kent with flooding in the Dover area.
Overnight, thunderstorms brought extremely heavy rainfall to parts of Kent, with the Dover area experiencing flooding. Rain and lightning rolled in at around 22:00 BST on Friday after the country experienced its hottest day of the year so far with temperatures reaching 29.4C in West Suffolk.
Sun-kissed beaches in Eastbourne, Sussex, on FridaySun-kissed beaches in Eastbourne, Sussex, on Friday
The rain and lightning rolled in after the highest temperature was recorded in village Santon Downham in West Suffolk with 29.4C, according to Met Office provisional figures. This exceeded the previous recorded high of 29.3C in Kew, London, on 1 May.
Friday exceeded the 29.3C recorded in Kew, London, on 1 May.
Scotland also had its warmest day of the year so far with 25.7C recorded at Lossiemouth in Moray.Scotland also had its warmest day of the year so far with 25.7C recorded at Lossiemouth in Moray.
"Today has been very warm for much of the UK, and hot in the South East where temperatures were comfortably 9C or 10C higher than the average expected for this time of year," a spokesperson for the Met Office said. A spokesperson for the Met Office said that temperatures in the south east were "comfortably 9C or 10C higher than the average expected for this time of year".
It comes as an amber warning for thunderstorms was issued for an area in the east and south-east from Eastbourne, Sussex, in the south up to Cromer in north Norfolk from 20:00 BST on Friday till 05:00 on Saturday. An amber warning for thunderstorms was in place in the east and south-east from Eastbourne, Sussex, in the south up to Cromer in north Norfolk from 20:00 BST on Friday till 05:00 on Saturday.
The Met Office said some places within the area covered by its amber warning could see 30-50mm of rain and winds in excess of 40-50mph.
A swan in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, photographed on the warmest day of the year so far
Frequent lightning and intense downpours will lead to flash flooding.
It warned fast flowing or deep floodwater is likely, causing danger to life.
How to stay safe during a storm and what to do in a power cutHow to stay safe during a storm and what to do in a power cut
How do UK weather warnings work?How do UK weather warnings work?
The Met Office said people in the affected areas should prepare to avoid travelling by road during potentially dangerous road conditions, drive cautiously if they must travel, and avoid floodwater where possible. Yellow weather warnings remain in force more generally on Saturday until 18:00 across the South West, North East and North of England, Wales and much of Scotland where the thunderstorms could be just as severe but more localised.
They should stay indoors as much as possible and consider checking on people they know who are vulnerable and may need support with food or medical supplies, it said. Late on Friday night, Heathrow Airport apologised to passengers for flights delayed by "adverse weather conditions".
RAC breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson said that "amber weather warnings must be taken seriously." East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said a lightning strike was deemed the likeliest cause of a fire in a residential building in St Leonards-on-Sea.
"Strong winds increase the chance of trees and powerlines falling and this combined with torrential rain over a short period can make driving much more challenging," she said. There were no reports of casualties and the fire has been extinguished.
"Anyone not confident driving in the conditions may wish to postpone their journeys until the stormy weather passes." It was not just the south-east that saw heavy rainfall on Friday, however.
Yellow weather warnings are also in force more generally across eastern and southern England and Wales where the thunderstorms could be just as severe but more localised. In Devon, North Wyke near Okehampton saw 36.4mm of rain.
Into Saturday there will be more showers and thunderstorms across western parts of England, Wales and into Scotland where there is a further yellow severe weather warning. Five flood warnings were issued overnight by the Environment Agency, all in the South West, alongside 49 flood alerts in the South West, South East and Midlands.
The yellow warnings for thunderstorms are in place in: A further six flood alerts have since been put in place by Natural Resources Wales in South Wales.
South-west England and Wales from 14:00 to 23:59 on Friday National Rail also said a landslip had stopped all services between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton, with the weather conditions meaning it is not safe for engineers to reach the site.
Eastern and south-eastern England from 19:00 on Friday to 06:00 on Saturday Disruption is expected until 13:00 with rail operators warning customers to check for updates on services on Saturday morning.
Wales, western and northern England and Scotland from 00:00 to 18:00 on Saturday The Met Office warns that some areas could see 30-50mm of rain in a few hours, while a few locations could reach up to 80mm.
A further yellow warning is also in force in the eastern half of Northern Ireland from 06:00 to 18:00 BST on Saturday.
The rain will spread north and west, turning more showery in the afternoon but there will still be a risk of thunderstorms, the weather agency said.
The heat and humidity has been building gradually, especially across northern and eastern parts of England.The heat and humidity has been building gradually, especially across northern and eastern parts of England.
The high temperatures on Friday were around 7 to 10C above average for the time of year.
With the rising humidity and heat, thunderstorms will bring the end to the hot spell.With the rising humidity and heat, thunderstorms will bring the end to the hot spell.
Temperatures will be lower on Saturday with highs like low to mid-twenties across eastern England and high teens elsewhere.Temperatures will be lower on Saturday with highs like low to mid-twenties across eastern England and high teens elsewhere.
Soaking up the sun in Felixstowe, SussexSoaking up the sun in Felixstowe, Sussex