Yahoo News In pictures: Floods for parts of the UK as thunderstorms hit after hot weather
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.
UPDATE 👇
We’re absolutely devastated that this evening's weather took such a biblical turn. Thank you to everyone for your patience and cooperation, we’re relieved that everyone made it out safely. We’re very grateful to all our staff for managing a safe evacuation. (1) pic.twitter.com/r4EBIHV54P— Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival (@mostly_jazz) July 8, 2023
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.
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.
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.
