UK weather: Amber weather warning for rain issued in London and south east

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for rain for London and the south east, meaning there is a danger to life due to expected flooding.

There are four straight days of weather warnings in place starting on Monday, and some places in Britain was expected to be battered by 20 straight hours of rainfall on Monday.

On Sunday night, the Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning, but on Monday morning it was upgraded to amber. The warning was in place from 3pm to 11pm.

It warned residents in the capital and in Sussex, Kent, Berkshire, Buckinhamshire and Essex to expect:

1. Homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, causing damage to some buildings

2. Delays and some cancellations to train and bus services are likely with spray and flooding probably leading to difficult driving conditions and some road closures

3. Fast flowing floodwater is possible, causing danger to life

4. Power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses likely

Kent police issued warnings over flooding on Monday night. On Twitter Kent Police Roads said: "I think it's safe to say don't travel unless absolutely necessary. Countless calls of roads flooded, some over a foot deep, around the county and cars stranded. We are doing what we can but please don't make it worse by trying to get through. Stay home, stay safe."

One of those roads appeared to be in West Kingsdown, where social media users shared a photo of a police car in flood water on the A20.

In North Wales seven people were taken to hospital with serious injuries following a two-vehicle collision.

The collision involving a white Ford van and a black Volvo car took place on the A5104 near Treuddyn, Flintshire, at about 5.40pm on Monday.

With British temperatures recently rivalling the Mediterranean, it may have seemed that summer had firmly arrived.

But June is now odds on to be the wettest on record, with yellow weather warnings issued for the coming week and the country set to be deluged by heavy rain.

Simon Partridge, of the Met Office, said: "England will see showers for much of the week. Scotland, in particular the west coast, will have the best of the weather for a change, with up to 18 degrees.

"Heavy and persistent rain will continue for many, particularly across the east with thundery showers, especially in the south.

"The driest and brightest weather will be found across the northwest. It will be often cool and windy across the country."

He added that from Tuesday the rain will move to north east England and the West Midlands - but will last until Thursday.

Mr Partridge said: "It is unusual that the weather is coming in from the south east - it's very slow moving and won't just fizzle out."

This week will see potential highs of just 66.2F (19C), a marked shift from the 82.4F (28C) heat seen in London on June 3.

Bookmakers have said that 2019 could be the wettest year on record, whilst odds were 25-1 for it to rain on each day of Wimbledon.

Monday's weather, in pictures

Weather forecast for Monday, June 10

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