UK braces for week of storms, flooding, heavy rain

London, Aug 16

The UK Met Office on Tuesday issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for most of the country with conditions potentially causing heavy rain and more flash flooding as well as transport disruption and power cuts. The weather warning will stay in place for southern England on Wednesday, where communities could be cut off by flooded roads, and the chance of fast-flowing or deep flood water could cause danger to life, reports dpa news agency.

Heavy showers caused flooding in areas of Cornwall and Devon on Monday afternoon while thunderstorms developed in east coast counties such as Essex, Suffolk and Lincolnshire.

It came as an abrupt end to the heatwave last week and followed weeks of little rain, which had caused droughts, leaving land parched.

The National Drought Group on August 12 moved parts of the South West, parts of southern and central England, and the East of England into official drought status while at least six water companies have imposed or are planning to impose hosepipe bans.

The Met Office said localised areas in England and Wales will be hit by torrential rain, thunder and localised flooding again on Tuesday.

Otherwise conditions will be warm and humid with a mixture of some sunny spells and showers.

The Environment Agency has put 10 flood alerts in areas of Norfolk, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

--IANS