Severe thunderstorms swept across the UK overnight, causing multiple house fires and widespread travel disruption. In Bristol, a semi-detached house in Emersons Green was set alight after a suspected lightning strike yesterday evening. Footage shows the roof engulfed in flames as fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze. No injuries were reported, according to UK Dispatch on social media.
Thousands of lightning strikes recorded
The Met Office recorded over 27,000 lightning strikes over Bristol and Bath since Sunday morning. In London, skies were illuminated by around 3,000 lightning strikes in the past 24 hours. The South West of England was also heavily affected by the weather front.
London Fire Brigade received approximately 400 calls since midnight due to storms causing flooding across the capital, with at least two house fires believed to be linked to lightning strikes.
Travel chaos and airport closure
Bristol Airport was forced to close after lightning damaged air traffic control systems, preventing planes from taking off and landing yesterday. While flights have resumed today, tracking website Flightradar24 shows delays to several flights throughout the day.
In London, flash flooding submerged roads as drains were overwhelmed by heavy rain. The Tube network faced significant disruption: the Elizabeth line is partially suspended between Heathrow Terminals due to flooding, with severe delays between Paddington and Heathrow T5. The District line is suspended between Whitechapel and Wimbledon, Edgware Road and Earl’s Court, Earl’s Court and Kensington (Olympia), and Whitechapel and Ealing Broadway and Richmond. The Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith and City, and Metropolitan lines are experiencing severe delays.
Road flooding and rail warnings
Raynes Park Bridge and Lower Down Road in Merton, southwest London, were flooded this morning, with the road under the railway bridge blocked by water. National Rail urged passengers: “If you are travelling on Wednesday 24 or Thursday 25 June to from or within the red weather warning zone, please only travel if absolutely necessary.” Red and amber weather warnings are in place in parts of England and Wales until Thursday.
