UK weather: ‘Frequent’ lightning likely for days as forecasters warn of torrential rain and flooding

Met Office also warns of potential power cuts and travel disruption from storms

Thunderstorms are expected to rage across the UK in the days ahead, with forecasters predicting torrential downpours, “frequent” lightning strikes and possible power cuts.

The Met Office has warned there could also be delays and cancellations to trains and buses as well road closures due to the widespread storms.

Forecasters have issued a severe yellow warning for thunderstorms in Scotland for Monday and in Wales and southwest England for Tuesday, with drivers told to watch out for fast-moving floodwaters, hail and strong winds.

Although the southeast will enjoy largely dry and bright conditions over the next couple of days, there is no sign of the heatwave returning: storms are expected to sweep across most of England and central Scotland on Wednesday.

“The weather remains lively over the next few days,” said the Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir. “Some torrential downpours can’t be ruled out and we’re likely to see frequent lightning.”

Although some of the heavy rain experienced across England in recent days will clear throughout Monday, a second band of low pressure would see thunderstorms and heavy downpours arriving from the south west early on Tuesday morning.

“There’s definitely a risk of flooding,” said Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson. “Thunderstorms are a concern – there could be as much as 30mm to 40mm of rain. That’s quite a lot of rain flowing in quite a short period of time.”

The new weather warnings follows a weekend of heavy downpours with half a month’s worth of rain falling across parts of the UK leading to travel disruption and floods.

Vehicles stuck in several feet of water after flooding in Stockport, Manchester (PA / @cfbcity)

More than 20 flood warnings were in place across the Midlands and North West on Monday morning, according to Environment Agency.

Rochdale in Greater Manchester saw 100mm of rainfall – more than a month’s worth – in 48 hours, leaving a number of properties in the town centre flooded.

Emergency services attended several homes in Rochdale and properties in the nearby town of Littleborough affected by flooding, Rochdale Council said on Sunday.

The wet weather comes after a week in which Europe was hit by a record-breaking heatwave, with provisional figures suggesting Thursday may have been the UK's hottest-ever day, peaking at 38.7C in Cambridge.

Monday will see highs of 25C in southeast and 20C in the north of England. But temperatures are expected to dip slightly midweek before climbing again before the weekend.

Above-average temperatures won’t return to the southeast until Friday at the earliest, according to the Met Office.