In pictures: Floods for parts of the UK as thunderstorms hit after hot weather

Ellen Manning
·3-min read
A woman is caught in heavy rain in Speke, Liverpool. Picture date: Saturday July 8, 2023. The UK is facing thunderstorms and heavy rain as forecasts that the country could see the hottest of the year were changed. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
Thunderstorms caught out shoppers in Speke, Liverpool, on Saturday. (Getty)

Parts of the UK were left flooded after thunderstorms and heavy rain hit amid high temperatures, with major events affected.

Forecasters had issued thunderstorm warnings for parts of the country for Saturday, following yellow heat-health alerts for six regions through to Sunday morning due to hot weather.

The yellow thunderstorm warnings remained in place up to 9pm on Sunday night, with advice that flooding could happen quickly, bringing fast flowing or deep floodwater, along with possibilities of delays and cancellations to train and bus services and potential road closures.

The weather affected Wimbledon and The Ashes, while on Saturday Birmingham's Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival was called off due to a "biblical" storm.

Also in the Midlands, some roads had to be closed due to the weather.

Read more: When will the next UK heatwave happen in 2023? Here's what we know

Temperatures were initially predicted to reach record levels on Saturday, with 33C forecast, but that was later changed to suggest the mercury would hit 30C or 31C in East Anglia.

Downpours continued on Sunday, with slightly cooler temperatures bringing a reprieve, and unsettled weather is due to continue on Monday, with more thunderstorms expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Emergency services rescue a woman from her vehicle after it got stranded on a flooded road in Mossley Hill, Liverpool. Picture date: Saturday July 8, 2023. The UK is facing thunderstorms and heavy rain as forecasts that the country could see the hottest of the year were changed. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
Emergency services rescue a woman from her vehicle after it got stranded on a flooded road in Mossley Hill, Liverpool. (Getty)
Cars drive through a flooded road after heavy rain in Speke, Liverpool. Picture date: Saturday July 8, 2023. The UK is facing thunderstorms and heavy rain as forecasts that the country could see the hottest of the year were changed. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
The Met Office had issued a yellow thunderstorm warning, including warnings of floods, which hit roads in Speke, Liverpool, on Saturday. (Getty)
LEEDS, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Cricket fans wait for the rain to end during day three of the LV= Insurance Ashes 3rd Test Match between England and Australia at Headingley on July 08, 2023 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Stu Forster - ECB/ECB via Getty Images)
The Ashes 3rd Test Match between England and Australia at Headingley, Leeds, was disrupted by the weather. (Getty)

Simon Partridge, from the Met Office, said temperatures would be lower, as would humidity, and the weather would be "changeable".

In its long range forecast for 8 to 17 July, the Met Office said: "A band of heavy rain is moving erratically east across into western Britain.

"Expect very warm and humid conditions with scattering of showers, potentially developing into severe thunderstorms ahead."

It said temperatures will be "very warm/hot" for most areas of England, eastern Wales and parts of Scotland.

Rain stops play on court one as they cover the court on day six of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon. Picture date: Saturday July 8, 2023. (Photo by Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images)
Rain stopped play at Wimbledon as downpours hit the capital at the weekend. (Getty)
Two women protect themselves from the heavy rain in Speke, Liverpool. Picture date: Saturday July 8, 2023. The UK is facing thunderstorms and heavy rain as forecasts that the country could see the hottest of the year were changed. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
The torrential rain came after high temperatures across the country. (Getty)
Spectators take shelter during a rain delay on day six of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon. Picture date: Saturday July 8, 2023. (Photo by Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)
Spectators had to take shelter during rain delays on day six Wimbledon. (Getty)

The second half of July could see "scope for a few showers or thunderstorms", forecasters have warned.

The Met Office confirmed that June was the hottest on record, with average temperatures of 15.8C - 0.9C hotter than the joint previous record of 14.9C in 1940 and 1976.

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