MILLIONS of homes are at risk of flooding as an “incredible deluge” is set to hit the UK – days after Brits roasted in a heatwave.
Thunderstorms last night battered parts of the UK and forced Brits to dig out their brollies after days of scorching heat.
A man attempts to take a picture during heavy rain in Greenwich, London
A woman jumped over a puddle as the rain poured in London yesterday
Yellow weather warnings for rain and and thunderstorms are in place across the UK
And today offers no respite, as yellow weather warnings for rain and and thunderstorms are in place across the UK.
Flash floods have already wreaked havoc on homes and businesses – with the Met Office warning fast-flowing water poses “danger to life”.
The Environment Agency estimates more than three million homes in England are vulnerable to floods.
Forecasters have warned Brits to be prepared for the “incredible deluge” that is about to hit.
Those in low-lying properties should make sure their valuable items are “ready to go”, or “on a higher level” due to the risk.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge told the Daily Telegraph: “If people know that properties may have flooded before it might be the time just to be ready – have a clear up, put any valuables at a higher level.
“It could be as simple and as fundamental as that, so that if you do have to move quickly you are already halfway prepared.
“It’s incredibly challenging to identify where you are going to get the most extreme events.”
The Met Office has issued an amber thunderstorm warning for areas of Cornwall, Devon and Somerset – with the likely chance of homes and businesses flooding, power cuts, and transport chaos.
Yellow warnings are also in place for most of the UK on Tuesday and for southern England on Wednesday.
Roads have already turned into rivers overnight, with the Met Office warning of the risk of power cuts.
In Cornwall, up to three inches of rain poured down in just a few hours yesterday.
Meanwhile thunderstorms developed in east-coast counties like Essex, Suffolk and Lincolnshire.
And today, hail, frequent lightning and flash flooding is possible in areas further south, with heavy rain predicted across England and Wales.
The rain will likely later become more concentrated in southern parts of England.
Downpours are expected across Scotland on Tuesday but will gradually clear as the day goes on, while Northern Ireland will be the driest.
But despite the rain, temperatures will remain in the 20s in parts – feeling far cooler than last month’s record-breaking heat.
WET WET WET
July was the driest on record since 1935, scorching grass areas across the UK, starting wildfires and drying up our reservoirs as a result.
Yet the unsettled weather forecast for this week might not bring enough rain to replenish the crisp ground.
Experts fear the downpours may make little difference to the water shortage as it could be the “wrong sort of rain”.
Earlier, Professor Hannah Cloke, an expert in hydrology at the University of Reading, explained why there is the potential for floods in drought-hit areas.
She said: “The ground is really dry and when it is so dry it acts a little bit like concrete and that water can’t get in so it drains straight off.
“There is the damage to homes and businesses these floods can cause, and inconvenience with transport disruptions, but if it is very heavy in one place it can also be very dangerous.”
Explaining why this heavy rain will not alleviate drought-hit areas, she said: “It’s a drop in the ocean really. It is not soaking into the soil which is how we really need it. We need it back into the system where it can be stored.
“We really need a long winter of rain to replenish this.”
Brits sheltered from the rain in Glasgow yesterday
Heavy rain poured down in Essex yesterday – but one brave runner was not deterred
Businesses in Devon cleared out flood water yesterday
