UMVA has learned that a severe storm system has brought torrential rain and intense thunderstorms to southern England, causing widespread disruption and flooding in many areas.
The Met Office rain trackers have been monitoring the storm's progress, showing the heavy rain bands that have led to localised flooding. The downpours have been so intense that they've coincided with the first of two 24-hour Tube strikes, making the commute home even more challenging for those out and about on bikes or walking.
A live lightning tracker has been showing where the most active storms are, with many people taking to social media to share their experiences of the severe weather. The storms have been so intense that they've caused office buildings to shake, car alarms to sound, and intruder alarms to go off.
Residents have been sharing their eyewitness accounts, describing the hailstones, thunder, and lightning as "deafening" and "like nothing I've heard in 25 years". The sudden change in weather has been dramatic, with the weather in West London turning from sunny to thunderous and stormy in just a matter of minutes.
The storm has left many people wondering if this kind of severe weather is normal for this time of year, with some expressing their amazement and concern on social media. The images and videos shared online show the intensity of the storm, with lightning illuminating the dark skies and hailstones pounding against windows and roofs.
