Bank holiday washout! Thunder and lightning rock London as torrential rain drenches capital – while music-lovers at Reading and Leeds festivals brace for a soaking
- Dark skies and lightning strikes were pictured in capital on Saturday afternoon
- Reading and Leeds festivals saw rainfall as music-lovers donned their ponchos
Thunder and lightning have hit London amid torrential downpours, making for a washout start to the bank holiday weekend, while music-lovers at Reading and Leeds festivals prepare to get soaked.
Festivalgoers were warned to make the most of the good weather while they could amid stormy conditions and a yellow weather warning not too far away in the capital.
Images show dramatic lightning strikes and dark skies over London as commuters and tourists visiting for the long weekend braced the torrential rain, while those at the festivals donned their raincoats and wellies in preparation for a wet weekend.
Saturday headliners at Reading included The Killers and The 1975 while Leeds crowds were set to enjoy Foals and Sam Fender.
Rain was expected to hit Berkshire this afternoon but Yorkshire will get the worst of the conditions amid a yellow thunderstorm warning that took effect at 11am and runs until 8pm.
The yellow weather warning covers the north-east of England from Alnwick, north of Newcastle, down to Skegness, and as far west as Huddersfield, Leeds and Bradford.
Temperatures across the country are sitting in the high teens and low twenties – with the highest temperature expected to be around 21C in the south-east.
Images show dramatic lightning strikes and dark skies over London
Torrential downpours swept across London on Saturday, with many tourists getting caught up in the wet weather
Images show huge amounts of surface water in the roads in central London
Festival goers try to escape the rain on day 2 of Reading Festival
Heavy rain showers caught most people out in London, with people trying to shelter from the wet and windy weather
Festivalgoers in Reading were forced to bring out their ponchos in a bid to avoid getting wet
Jonathan Vautrey, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘There’s a reasonable chance that some showers will pass over Leeds and Reading over the course of the day.
‘Particularly for Leeds, they are within the yellow warning area that we currently have out just because winds are going to be lightest across that north-eastern area of England today.
‘That will mean those showers are slower moving at times, so rainfall is likely to accumulate in specific locations a bit more.’
The yellow weather warning advises of ‘slow-moving heavy showers and thunderstorms’, as well as the potential for flooding and disruption on the roads and railways.
Mr Vautrey added that both Leeds and Reading ‘do have the potential for seeing some lightning and thunder’ over the course of Saturday, but rainfall would be the main issue.
Later tonight, the rain will dissipate, giving way to mostly pleasant conditions except for the western edges of Great Britain, which could see some showers overnight.
Those showers, Mr Vautrey added, could spread east over the course of Sunday – with festival goers once more in the firing line.
There will be a reduced chance of lightning in Leeds on Sunday, but sharp, heavy downpours remain likely and could merge into longer spells of rain.
Music-lovers were seen fleeing for cover under their ponchos at the Reading Festival
The heavens opened at the Reading festival on Saturday afternoon
But the wet and stormy weather did little to dampen the spirits of those attending the festival
A wet spell of weather did briefly break for hints of sunshine
Excited festivalgoers remained upbeat and optimistic despite the cold and wet weather
Everyone came prepared for a washout weekend, all bringing along their own ponchos
Reading will see ‘a good number of sunny spells’ on Sunday morning, but showers will move over from the West before easing off in the evening.
In London, those enjoying Notting Hill Carnival on Sunday have been told to be aware of sporadic heavy showers.
Rain is expected on Sunday at around lunchtime, just as festivities are getting under way in the capital.
For the rest of Saturday in London, Mr Vautrey said: ‘It’s stayed relatively dry so far [in Notting Hill], but we are now just starting to see those showers begin to bubble up.
‘There’s still going to be sunny spells in between these showers, so it’s not going to be a complete washout all day in London both today and tomorrow.’
Bank Holiday Monday, meanwhile, is expected to begin with an east-moving band of cloud and rain – before turning ‘drier and brighter’ as the day goes on.
Temperatures will be cooler in the morning before hitting a high of 21C in London mid-afternoon.
LEEDS: Day two of the Leeds Festival began with bright sunshine – but a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms is in effect and could see heavy downpours dampen spirits
READING: Fans arriving at Reading train station ahead of the festival’s second day on Saturday. The Met Office warned of rain at lunchtime and during the afternoon
LEEDS: Day two of Leeds Festival getting underway on Saturday, as fans flock to get the best spots to enjoy the likes of Wet Leg, Frank Turner and Loyle Carner
WHITLEY BAY: Huge clouds loom over a lighthouse in North Tyneside – where a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms is in effect until 8pm
Dark rain clouds gather over the main stage at Leeds Festival
Festivalgoers bring out the Ponchos at Reading Festival as rain hits on Saturday afternoon
Festival fans have already had their mettle tested this weekend amid ongoing rail strikes – and complaints of long queues to get in with their camping gear.
Action by thousands of staff aligned with the RMT union has seen timetables reduced across England, with journeys into Scotland and Wales also affected, amid a dispute over pay and the plan to close hundreds of ticket offices at stations.
RMT members will also walk out on Saturday, September 2 and ASLEF members will strike on Friday, September 1 followed by an overtime ban the next day.
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