UK lightning tracker MAPPED: More than 800 strikes recorded today as storms batter UK
THE UK has been subjected to increasingly extreme weather recently, with a savage heatwave giving way for intense storms.
Yorkshire weather: Intense flash floods destroy road
A week after the UK recorded its hottest recorded temperature of all time, huge storms swept in, leading to major flooding and damage to infrastructure. The record for the highest temperature officially recorded in the UK was set last Thursday with 38.7C (101.6F) recorded at Cambridge Botanic Garden. But the heat quickly gave way over the weekend, bringing persistent rain and thunderstorms.
Large swathes of the nation are under yellow alert from the Met Office for thunderstorms and rain.
The warnings expire at midnight on Wednesday, but could yet be extended as poor conditions persist.
According to Net Weather’s live lightweight tracker, the UK has been hit by lightning 801 times today alone.
Over the past seven days, that number jumps to a staggering 32,504 strikes.
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This is compared to the 40,970 recorded for the whole month of July.
Most of the recent strikes were recorded in northern parts of England and Scotland, where the storm warnings are in place.
The Met Office is warning of flooding continuing into Wednesday evening, with damage caused by fast-moving water, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds possible.
Travel details or cancellations are also possible, with driving conditions likely to be poor.
There is also a “slight chance” of power cuts, said the Met Office.
In Yorkshire, reports of flash floods washing away roads and inundating houses came in on Tuesday night.
Malham Tarn, in the Yorkshire Dales, had 3.2 inches (82.2mm) of rain fall in 24 hours.
The monthly average in the area for this time of year is 3.5in (89mm).
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received around 115 calls to flooding incidents in Leyburn and Reeth on Tuesday evening.
A spokesman said: “We had several appliances as well as our swift water rescue teams and high volume pumping appliance within the area attending various incidents involving flooded properties and cars stuck in floodwater.”
The Swaledale area in the Yorkshire Dales seems to have been particularly badly hit, with whole roads and fields flooded.
Images shared on social media showed a bridge collapsed on the road between Grinton and Leyburn.
In Dent, a landslide caused by flooding led to major travel disruptions.
Northern Rail said trains had been suspended between Ribblehead and Kirkby Stephen.
Another landslide between near Beeston Castle has also caused disruption in the Manchester area.