UMVA has learned that a dramatic shift in weather patterns has brought torrential rain to southern England, with Met Office rain trackers showing the severity of the downpours across the region.
The storms are expected to spread eastward throughout the day, bringing with them bands of significant heavy rain that will lead to localised flooding in many parts. This sudden change in weather comes on the first day of a 24-hour Tube strike, forcing more commuters to travel on foot or by bike and face a soaked journey home.
A live lightning tracker reveals the most active storm areas, with residents describing the intense thunder and lightning that shook office buildings and set off car alarms and intruder alarms. Social media is abuzz with eyewitness accounts, including one resident who exclaimed, "Haven't heard this kind of thunder in 25yrs. That definitely hit or landed somewhere."
The extreme weather change comes just a week after the UK experienced its hottest ever temperatures, with wall-to-wall sunshine across many parts. The Met Office recorded six consecutive days above 30°C in some places, making Spring 2026 the warmest on record for England and Wales. However, spring rainfall was 14% below the long-term average, making this week's downpours a welcome relief for gardeners.
Residents are taking to social media to share their experiences, with one person asking, "Is this normal?!" as hail, rain, thunder, and lightning batter London. Another resident described the weather shift in west London, saying, "In the last 10 mins the weather turned from sunny to Thunder Lightening & possible Armageddon."
