A sudden and violent thunderstorm swept through London last night, catching residents off guard with more than two hours of heavy rain, over 3,000 lightning strikes, and flash floods that disrupted travel and prompted hundreds of emergency calls.
Storm details and impact
The storm, which began in the early hours, brought rumbling thunder and intense lightning. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) responded to more than 400 calls related to flooding and two housefires linked to lightning strikes. Balham Tube Station was closed due to flash flooding, and a portion of the Elizabeth Line was suspended.
Residents took to social media to describe the experience. Londoner Adam Schwarz wrote on X: 'It’s 3.45am in London and it’s been thunderstorming for almost two straight hours. One of the biggest and longest storms I can remember in my almost 35 years in this city.' Another added: 'I have never heard thunder so loud in my life.' However, not everyone was affected; one commentator noted: 'I had a good sleep, I didn’t hear anything.'
Fire brigade response
Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: 'It has been a very busy night for our control officers, firefighters and officers. Shortly after 4 am, due to a large number of calls received by the brigade, we implemented our high-volume call procedure, which means flooding calls where there is a risk to life are prioritised, and crews then attend other calls as non-emergencies when they can.'
He added that Operation Willow Beck was temporarily activated. Introduced in 2022 by the Home Office and National Chiefs Fire Council, this procedure diverts surplus 999 calls to unaffected fire and rescue service control rooms during extreme demand. Goulbourne thanked colleagues from other fire services and his own staff for their professionalism.
Travel disruption and aftermath
The LFB urged drivers not to drive through flooded areas. The rain has since passed, but the brigade continues to work through outstanding calls and respond to damage reports across the city. The storm followed soaring temperatures, contributing to the flash flooding.
