29,000 Lightning Strikes Batter Southern England as 40C Heat Builds
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 23
29,000 Lightning Strikes Batter Southern England as 40C Heat Builds
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 23
Summary
29,000 lightning strikes hit southern England in 24 hours, with overnight thunderstorms triggering flash flooding, travel disruption and multiple fires from the south west to London and the south east.
400 calls reached London Fire Brigade overnight, including two house fires believed caused by lightning, while another home in Bristol caught fire earlier in the evening.
High-20s to low-30s temperatures on Monday loaded the atmosphere with energy, and an upper-level disturbance released it into intense cumulonimbus storms, the Met Office said.
Up to 40C is forecast for England next, with a rare Met Office red heat alert due to take effect on Wednesday.