Bank Holiday Monday washout for millions of Brits as Environment Agency issue 26 flood alerts following flash flooding in County Durham
Bank Holiday Monday will be a washout for millions of Brits after the Environment Agency issued 26 flood alerts following flash flooding in County Durham.
The alerts are in place predominantly across the south of England, especially between London and Bristol.
But a warning remains in place near County Durham in the north east after shocking images taken on Sunday showed residents wading in thigh-high water near the village of Wynyard.
Residents in affected areas have been warned to please avoid using low-lying footpaths and any bridges near local watercourses.
They have also been told not to attempt to walk or drive through flood water.
A flood warning remains in place near County Durham in the north east after shocking images taken on Sunday showed residents wading in thigh-high water near the village of Wynyard
The Met Office has also issued a yellow rain warning for parts of the Western Isles in Scotland and for parts of Northern Ireland. The east of Scotland and parts of the Highlands also have a yellow warning for thunderstorms on Monday.
The flooding comes after some areas of Britain received an inch of rain overnight amid torrential downpours and thunderstorms.
The Met Office has also issued a yellow rain warning for parts of the Western Isles in Scotland and for parts of Northern Ireland for Monday.
The east of Scotland and parts of the Highlands also have a yellow warning for thunderstorms on Monday.
Brits are warned to expect difficult driving conditions and possible flood damage to homes and businesses.
Some areas could become cut off if roads are flooded and people are advised to be prepared in case of power cuts due to lightning.
Other areas with heavy thunderstorms included eastern Wales, across the Midlands and into eastern England, where visitors went punting on the River Cam using umbrellas to keep themselves dry.
Other areas with heavy thunderstorms included eastern Wales, across the Midlands and into eastern England, where visitors went punting on the River Cam using umbrellas to keep themselves dry
People laugh as they shelter under umbrellas to avoid being soaked by the thunderstorms soaking the UK over the bank Holiday weekend
the Environment Agency issued 26 flood alerts following flash flooding in County Durham, predominantly across the south of England, especially between London and Bristol
A warning remains in place near County Durham in the north east after the area was flash flooded on Sunday
However Dorset's Lyme Regis basked in the sunshine on Sunday, as less than 30 miles away nearly a third of a month's rain fell within the space of an hour.
The Met Office said Yeovilton, Somerset — just 29 miles from the packed beach at Lyme Regis — had the highest hourly rainfall total of early Sunday afternoon, recording 18.8mm (0.75ins) between 1pm and 2pm.
Between the showers, temperatures reached a high of 20.6C (69.1F) at Writtle, Essex.
The mercury at St James's Park, central London, also rose into the 20s.
Met Office spokesman Marco Petagna said of yesterday's conditions: 'The best of the weather was across parts of southern England and parts of North East Scotland.
'Showers were progressing eastwards and there was quite a lot of thunder around.'
Mr Petagna said that the worst of the showers today are likely to move north into Scotland, leaving England and Wales with 'much more scattered and lighter' downpours.
However Dorset's Lyme Regis (pictured) basked in the sunshine on Sunday, as less than 30 miles away nearly a third of a month's rain fell within the space of an hour
The mercury at St James's Park (pictured), central London, also rose into the 20s over the weekend
'There's a chance some areas may get away with a dry day,' he added.
Britain's warmest spots are predicted in eastern and north eastern parts of England with maximum temperatures of 19C (66F), whereas southern regions are only set to reach 17C (63F).
Mr Petagna said average temperatures for this time of year are 14 to 15C (57 to 59F) in northern areas and 16 to 18C (61 to 64F) in the south.
The month so far has been wetter and duller than average, with 103 per cent of the normal rainfall for England and Wales — an average of 63.2mm (2.48ins) — having fallen by Friday.
There had only been 137 hours of sunshine by Friday, 69 per cent of the normal total for the whole of May, when the figure would normally be between 70 and 80 per cent for the time of the month.
Unsettled weather is due to continue into the coming week, with showers and longer spells of rain moving east tomorrow and further showers on Wednesday.
