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| Torrential rain prompts weather warning for south-east England | Torrential rain prompts weather warning for south-east England |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Met Office has issued an amber warning for rain in the south-east of England, saying the public should be prepared for the risk of flooding to roads and properties. | |
| Torrential rain and thunderstorms have battered parts of southern England, with Sussex and Kent bearing the brunt. The Met Office said 60mm of rain had fallen in Eastbourne town centre since 3am, most of it between 10am and midday. That is more rain in nine hours than the average of 51.6mm for the entire month of August. | Torrential rain and thunderstorms have battered parts of southern England, with Sussex and Kent bearing the brunt. The Met Office said 60mm of rain had fallen in Eastbourne town centre since 3am, most of it between 10am and midday. That is more rain in nine hours than the average of 51.6mm for the entire month of August. |
| Dan Williams, of the Met Office, said further downpours were forecast for the area. “Sussex and Kent have been the areas that have seen the highest rain, but there are quite a lot of areas in the south-east corner that are still expected to see more,” he said. | Dan Williams, of the Met Office, said further downpours were forecast for the area. “Sussex and Kent have been the areas that have seen the highest rain, but there are quite a lot of areas in the south-east corner that are still expected to see more,” he said. |
| The heavy rainfall caused disruption and brought some rail services temporarily to a halt. Southern Railway had to suspend services between Lewes and Wivelsfield while the line was cleared. Flooding at Gillingham in Kent meant train delays of up to 30 minutes between Chatham and Faversham. | The heavy rainfall caused disruption and brought some rail services temporarily to a halt. Southern Railway had to suspend services between Lewes and Wivelsfield while the line was cleared. Flooding at Gillingham in Kent meant train delays of up to 30 minutes between Chatham and Faversham. |
| Between 10.42 and midday, East Sussex rescue service was called to 14 incidences of flooding, some including water affecting electrics. The Eastbourne Airshow cancelled all flight displays because of the bad weather. | Between 10.42 and midday, East Sussex rescue service was called to 14 incidences of flooding, some including water affecting electrics. The Eastbourne Airshow cancelled all flight displays because of the bad weather. |
| Unfortunately due to adverse weather conditions affecting large parts of the south coast, all flying displays have been cancelled today. | Unfortunately due to adverse weather conditions affecting large parts of the south coast, all flying displays have been cancelled today. |
| An Environment Agency spokesman said the heavy rain across many parts of England had the potential to cause isolated incidents of localised flooding. | An Environment Agency spokesman said the heavy rain across many parts of England had the potential to cause isolated incidents of localised flooding. |
| “The Environment Agency is monitoring the situation closely and supporting local authorities who will respond to any reports of surface-water flooding,” the spokesman said. “Our teams are out on the ground working hard with partners to reduce the risk of flooding, and will issue flood alerts and warnings for rivers if required.” | |
| The storms are expected to spread northwards, affecting much of England and Wales at times through Thursday and into Friday. | The storms are expected to spread northwards, affecting much of England and Wales at times through Thursday and into Friday. |
| “The rain may be torrential at times and there is also a risk of hail,” said the Met Office. “On Friday the heavy rain is likely to also affect eastern parts of Scotland, although there is less risk of thunder here.” | “The rain may be torrential at times and there is also a risk of hail,” said the Met Office. “On Friday the heavy rain is likely to also affect eastern parts of Scotland, although there is less risk of thunder here.” |
| Beautiful sunshine one day floods the next #BeachyHead#Eastbourne#floods pic.twitter.com/8JbzNI8puY | |
| While the Met Office was confident in its prediction of heavy rain, it was not certain of exactly which areas would see thunder, lightning and the highest rainfall totals – and therefore the highest risk of disruption. It issued severe weather warnings covering southern England. | While the Met Office was confident in its prediction of heavy rain, it was not certain of exactly which areas would see thunder, lightning and the highest rainfall totals – and therefore the highest risk of disruption. It issued severe weather warnings covering southern England. |
| “Warmer air can carry more moisture, and as such some very heavy rain is possible,” it said. “However, this type of situation is difficult to forecast accurately a few days ahead and there is some uncertainty about which areas will see the heaviest rainfall. | “Warmer air can carry more moisture, and as such some very heavy rain is possible,” it said. “However, this type of situation is difficult to forecast accurately a few days ahead and there is some uncertainty about which areas will see the heaviest rainfall. |
| “Current indications are that central and southern England and Wales are most likely to be affected. We may also have hail and thunder – this is most likely early on Thursday and then again on Friday afternoon.” | “Current indications are that central and southern England and Wales are most likely to be affected. We may also have hail and thunder – this is most likely early on Thursday and then again on Friday afternoon.” |
| The storms are due to increasingly warm air being drawn into the developing low-pressure system. “We expect a plume of warm air to push its way northwards across the UK. As that engages with an area of low pressure to the west, it brings the risk of very heavy thundery showers,” the Met Office said. | The storms are due to increasingly warm air being drawn into the developing low-pressure system. “We expect a plume of warm air to push its way northwards across the UK. As that engages with an area of low pressure to the west, it brings the risk of very heavy thundery showers,” the Met Office said. |
| The storms are expected to clear by Saturday, when the country should enjoy drier, fresher weather with some sunshine. | The storms are expected to clear by Saturday, when the country should enjoy drier, fresher weather with some sunshine. |