The mini-heatwave came to a sudden halt with thunder and heavy rain.
Lightning strikes wreaked havoc overnight across the UK as the Met Office issued a warning for thunderstorms.
The mini-heatwave came to a sudden halt after thunder and heavy rain hit overnight.
Sleep-deprived Londoners woke up in the early hours of Thursday as the thunderstorm rumbled above the capital.
Lightning strikes damaged the roof of a care home in Elmer, West Sussex, just before 2am. All residents were ‘safely relocated’ and no fire was found.
A university building in Chichester, West Sussex, was also hit by lightning, damaging its roof and electrics.
A yellow warning for thunder is in place for London and most of South West and south Wales.
Aidan McGivern, meteorologist with the forecaster, said: ‘After a lively night in some places with heavy rain and thunderstorms, the weather eases a little during Thursday, but we’re still going to see some outbreaks of rain, even some thundery downpours through the rest of the day.’
The alert is in place for London until 10am today.
Fahima Isaq posted on X (formerly Twitter) after thundery night: ‘I’ve never seen this amount of lightning before.’
South West and south Wales will see heavy rain and thunderstorms until about 8am, the forecaster said.
Met Office also warned the thunderstorms and rain could cause hazardous driving conditions on the roads, with spray and sudden flooding possible.
Where flooding and lightning strikes hit, trains and buses could be delayed or cancelled this morning.
Sadly, the forecaster could not promise a heatwave for the bank holiday although temperatures are set to be ‘above average’ with some ‘sunnier spells from time to time.’
The bank holiday weather is likely to be unsettled with heavy showers, the Met Office warned.
Amy Boko, senior meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘It might not be the sort of glorious sort of heatwave that we’re hoping for … but there probably will be some more pleasant and warmer weather for some people as we head towards the end of the week.’
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