'Insane' thunderstorms hit UK with 30,000 lightning strikes as London set for heatwave
London is set to escape flooding havoc threatening large parts of the UK on Saturday – after a band of storms hit the UK with 30,000 lightning strikes.
Temperatures soared on Friday Santon Downham in Suffolk reached 29.4C on Friday, setting a new high for the year, but it has been followed by warnings for thunderstorms throughout Saturday.
More than 30,000 lightning strikes were recorded up to 6am on Saturday as storms push northwards, although the Met Office said the 'vast majority' had been over the sea.
A yellow thunderstorm warning is in place until 6pm on Saturday covering the South West, North East and North of England, Wales and much of Scotland with the Met Office warning some areas could see 30-50mm of rain in a few hours, while a few locations could reach up to 80mm.
The thunderstorms could be accompanied by strong wind gusts and hail with the storms potentially bringing road flooding, difficult driving conditions, power cuts and flooding of homes and businesses.
Areas of heavy and thundery rain continue to push northwards across the country, as shown in the latest radar sequence 👇So far there have been over 30,000 lightning strikes ⚡️ The vast majority of which have been over the sea ⛈️ pic.twitter.com/X7zz2lsgvK
— Met Office (@metoffice) June 14, 2025
A further yellow warning comes into force in the eastern half of Northern Ireland from 6am to 6pm on Saturday, while a similar warning has been in place across the South East of England overnight following an amber alert on Friday.
Kent experienced heavy rainfall overnight, with flooded roads in parts of Dover. One person posted a video on X of an 'insane' thunderstorm in Thanet.
On the same social media platform, the UK Thunderstorm Updates account shared a map showing the wild weather sweeping Kent on Friday night.
'This is one hell of a thunderstorm over Kent currently - It's up to 500 lightning strikes per minute! Enjoy the light show for those underneath it!' they wrote.
A lightning strike was the likeliest cause of a fire in a residential building in St Leonards-on-Sea on Friday night, according to East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. They said there were no reports of casualties and the fire had been extinguished.
Insane thunderstorm in Thanet right now. This rain was bonkers and the lightening more or less constant. Still going, though the rain has calmed a little. #thunderstorms pic.twitter.com/8lVboBmwzw
— Dana Fox (@thevoidfox) June 13, 2025
In Devon, where North Wyke near Okehampton saw 36.4mm of rain on Friday, five flood warnings were issued overnight by the Environment Agency, alongside 46 flood alerts in the South West, South East and Midlands.
A further six flood alerts have been put in place by Natural Resources Wales in South Wales.
National Rail said a landslip had stopped all services between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton, with the weather conditions meaning it is not safe for engineers to reach the site. Disruption is expected until 1pm.
This is one hell of a thunderstorm over Kent currently - It's up to 500 lightning strikes per minute! Enjoy the light show for those underneath it! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/iUSQgiPMKt
— UK Thunderstorm Updates (@UKStormUpdates) June 13, 2025
Rail operators warned customers to check for updates on services on Saturday morning, while Heathrow Airport apologised to passengers late on Friday night for flights delayed by "adverse weather conditions".
Katharine Smith, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: 'There is a risk of significant and localised surface water flooding impacts in parts of England.
'Environment Agency teams have ensured rivers and watercourses are clear ahead of the storms and stand ready to support local authorities in their response to surface water flooding.
'We urge people not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car."
Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Ramsdale said: "While the warnings cover the areas of the country most at risk of seeing thunderstorms, not everyone within a warning area will experience a thunderstorm. For many, it will remain dry much of the time"
Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to ease slightly throughout the day, with the driest and brightest weather in the South East, which will remain very warm.
London is expected to see highs of 25C on Saturday, with temperatures expected to climb steadily through the coming week. The Met is forecasting peaks of 28C or 29C on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – a run of hot weather that would officially mark a heatwave.
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