Drivers abandon cars as flash floods turn roads into rivers

Torrential downpours are expected to hit the UK tomorrow, as severe weather is due to move across France in the early hours.

It comes after flash flooding in Edinburgh today saw drivers forced onto the roof of their cars as they scrambled to escape from waterlogged vehicles after the effects of a tropical ‘Saharan bubble’ hit Britain.

Downpours and a low pressure front in the south and up the east coast of England will give way to thunderstorms, with frequent lightning expected in eastern parts including Hull and Norwich, which are predicted to be worst hit with rain.

The Met Office’s ‘danger to life’ weather warnings remain in place for almost all of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales tonight, with a fortnight’s worth of rain falling in just one day in some areas and equal amounts predicted tomorrow.

In Scotland, drivers are battling flooded roads, which risk reaching homes and businesses – and causing power cuts.

Peter O’Brien, 53, says he got the shock of his life after seeing a ‘sea’ of water across some areas in Edinburgh.

He was heading to Edinburgh Retail Park on a tram today when he saw cars stranded due to the flash floods.

Mr O’Brien says he was told he had to leave the tram, which he thought was about to come off the rails.

Residents described the roads as ‘impassable’, due to the depth of the floodwaters.

There are currently five flood alerts in place for Scotland and 18 for England, with cars in Edinburgh forced underwater by flash flooding.

However, later on in the week, Britain could break its 35C June temperature record as, once the showers have died out, the 2,000-mile wide African air plume brings a heatwave from across continental Europe.

UK temperatures are expected to be hotter than Egypt and Thailand.

Met Office experts warned of a month’s worth of rainfall today 50mm (1.97in) in England and 100mm (3.94in) in Scotland – however it seems the downpour has stopped at around half the amount that was predicted.

Edinburgh experienced 44mm of rain, while their average rain fall for the month of July is 80-100mm, meaning they have had around 50 per cent of the month’s rain in just 24 hours.

A yellow thunderstorm warning remains in place until midnight on Monday for the vast majority of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and almost half of Wales.

Another one continues for the south east of England, midlands and parts of the north east, as well as Liverpool, Manchester and northern Wales until 10pm on Tuesday.