Britain is on high alert for flash flooding over the coming days as thunderstorms strike the country with some areas braced for more than an inch of rain within an hour.
Heavy downpours are likely across much of the UK bringing a risk of fast-flowing or deep floodwater and lightning strikes causing transport delays and power cuts.
A yellow thunderstorm warning is in place for North East England from 12pm today until 8pm, and then for most of the rest of England from 9pm until 6pm tomorrow.
It comes as the second major hosepipe ban came into force today, with restrictions activated by South East Water for 1.4million people across Kent and Sussex in Ashford, Canterbury, Eastbourne, Maidstone, Haywards Heath and Tunbridge Wells.
Yorkshire Water became the first major water firm to bring in a ban last Friday – and Southern Water restrictions will start in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from Monday.
Then from Tuesday, Thames Water will bring in a ban for customers in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, most of Wiltshire and some parts of Berkshire – but not London.
Conditions will feel very humid today before the storms begin, with temperatures topping 30C (86F) in parts of central and southern England this afternoon.
Parts of North East England such as Durham and Yorkshire could see up to 25mm (1in) of rain in less than an hour, as well as frequent lightning and large hail.
A Met Office yellow thunderstorm warning is in place for North East England from 12pm today until 8pm, and then for most of the rest of England from 9pm until 6pm tomorrow
South East Water has begun a hosepipe ban in the grey shaded area of Kent and Sussex today
In the South, rain is predicted to be torrential – with up to 30mm (1.2in) falling in less than an hour, and 90mm (3.5in) in less than three hours in certain places.
The Met Office said gusty winds, frequent lightning and hail are also likely – while spray and flooding could lead to difficulties for drivers and possible road closures.
Some communities could become cut off, while damage to homes and businesses is also possible and flash flooding could cause a ‘danger to life’.
On Sunday, widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue, moving northwards throughout the day.
But parts of the UK will also experience warm weather and brighter, drier spells today and throughout the weekend, particularly in East and South East England.
Alex Burkill, a meteorologist at the Met Office, warned that the high temperatures could become ‘quite uncomfortable’ in some parts of the country.
He said: ‘In the south and east, there is further chance of staying dry and some decent sunshine on offer.
‘So there’s a lot of heat around, high humidity as well, quite uncomfortable for some of us.
‘As we go into the weekend, with the heat and the humidity, there’s a fairly strong chance that we are going to see some heavy, thundery rain, feeding up from the south.
‘That is likely to become pretty widespread across much of the country as we go through Saturday and into Sunday.’
Next week is expected to continue to have unsettled weather, with a mixture of showers and thunderstorms and sunshine.
Temperatures will be warm depending on the sunshine and conditions may settle by mid-week with showers still in the east.
Downpours in London yesterday as a person sits across the Thames from the London Eye
The bed of Howden Reservoir at Bamford in the Peak District National Park on Wednesday
A man tries to keep a woman dry while walking in the rain at Newcastle Quayside on Tuesday
South East Water announced its hosepipe ban on July 11 as the ongoing dry weather and hot temperatures across England result in record-breaking water demand.
The firm said the ban means customers in Kent and Sussex will not be able to use hosepipes for activities such as watering gardens and washing cars, windows and patios, or filling swimming and paddling pools.
It will be enforced from today and until further notice, with those who ignore the ban facing fines of up to £1,000.
But there was disbelief from some residents, including one who tweeted: ‘Since I heard of a hosepipe ban in Kent a few days ago, I have passed no less than three underground pipes that appear to have broken, and water has been coming out, on main roads.’
Another tweeted: ‘Water leak on Batts Bridge Road, Uckfield. Water leak in London Road, Burgess Hill. And yet we are subject to a hosepipe ban. What a shambles.’
In response, South East Water wrote: ‘We understand it’s frustrating to see leaks when there’s a hosepipe ban. We’re seeing record demand for drinking water in Kent and Sussex.’
Rosie Duffield, the independent MP for Canterbury in Kent, said at the time of South East Water’s announcement last week that a hosepipe ban had been ‘inevitable’ after supply issues had already impacted some areas.
She added: ‘Alongside many residents, I am angry as to why this was not called earlier to help prevent the unacceptable shortages and disruption suffered by many in our area.’
People walk over the dry grass at Greenwich Park in South East London on Tuesday
Dried grounds surrounds pitches at Maidenhead and Bray Cricket Club in Berkshire on Tuesday
South East Water said in a statement last week: ‘Demand for drinking water in Kent and Sussex has reached record levels since May – with the ongoing warm and dry weather, we’re all using far more water than usual.
‘This situation has left us with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, so we can help our reservoirs and underground water storage recover.
‘We also continue to monitor the situation in our Western region, where we serve customers in parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.’
Customers will only be allowed to use a hosepipe when it is required for unavoidable health or safety reasons, for the welfare of animals – including fish – and if the hosepipe is not connected to mains water supply, according to the water company.
All four UK nations saw their warmest spring on record this year, with England experiencing the driest spring since 1893, according to the Met Office.
It has also been the driest start to the year since 1976 for England.
Rainfall across England was 20 per cent less than the long-term average for June, which was also the hottest on record for the country, with two heatwaves driving unusually high demand for water, the Environment Agency has said.
Drought was declared in East and West Midlands on Tuesday, with the region joining swathes of northern England in drought status.
