Thames Water has confirmed that the pipe ban for its 15 million customers in London and surrounding areas will start next week. The ban will start next Wednesday and comes as those in Devon and Cornwall are also set to face similar restrictions from next Tuesday. Large areas of Britain are also at risk of flash flooding today as storms batter the country’s parched landscape with heavy rain. The Met Office has put in place a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms covering much of England and south Wales, which has been upgraded to an orange alert for London and parts of south-east England. It warns of the potential for power outages, transportation disruptions and life-threatening hazards from fast-moving or deep-flooding waters. Dan Suri, Met Office forecaster, said: “With no meaningful rainfall in some southern locations since June, the soils in these areas have been baked by the sun turning them into hard, almost impermeable surfaces. “Any rainfall in these areas will not be able to be absorbed and will instead wash away soils and other hard surfaces, creating flash flooding in some areas.”

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Flooding and rainfall hit Devon and Cornwall

Flash floods hit Devon and Cornwall as the end of the UK heatwave was marked by torrential rain. Footage shows floodwaters at Haywood Cider Farm near Wadebridge, Cornwall, and cars struggling to drive through both sites yesterday. A yellow storm warning has been issued for England and Wales by the Met Office for Tuesday, August 16, until midnight that night. A new yellow warning is in place for Wednesday for thunderstorms in southern England. Flooding and downpours hit Devon and Cornwall as heat wave breaks out Furvah Shah17 August 2022 09:30 1660723818

Amber warning for thunderstorms in south-east England

The Met Office has issued an orange warning for thunderstorms in south-east England. Parts of London, Brighton and Canterbury are likely to be affected by flooding and disruption after weeks of hot and dry weather. People are being warned of flash flooding that could cause damage along with lightning, hail and strong winds. Fast-flowing waters or deep flooding are possible and can be life-threatening. Furvah Shah17 August 2022 09:10 1660723249

Torrential rain and thunderstorms for England and Wales

Torrential rain and thunderstorms are forecast across England and Wales after weeks of hot and dry weather. The Met Office has issued a yellow storm warning for Wednesday as it predicts “20 to 30mm of rain is possible within an hour”. People in central, southern and eastern England and south-east Wales may experience flash flooding, transport disruption and power cuts. The possibility of fast flowing or deep flooding can also cause a risk to life, the Met Office warns. Furvah Shah17 August 2022 09:00 1660720509

Thames Water announces pipe ban from next week

Thames Water has announced a pipe ban from next week as 15 million customers across London and other areas face restrictions. The ban will come into force from Wednesday August 24 and is one of many in place across England as water companies try to conserve resources in very dry weather. In a statement on its website, Thames Water said: “Following the driest July on record and below average rainfall in 10 of the last 12 months, water levels in our rivers and reservoirs are well below the usual. “With low rainfall forecast for the coming months, we now need to take the next step in our drought plan,” they added. Holly Bancroft has the full story.

Thames Water’s pipe ban will start next week as 15 million customers face restrictions

Thames Water has announced it will impose a pipe ban next week as 15 million customers face restrictions. Furvah Shah17 August 2022 08:15 1660716621

What is asthma attack?

The Met Office’s three-day weather warning highlights the risk of possible flooding, power cuts and travel disruption across much of the country as heavy rain hits, writes Zoe Tidman. But experts also warn there could be a rare health risk during stormy weather in the form of “storm asthma”. Read what they are and how these events cause breathing problems:

‘Rare’ asthma storm warning as UK battered by dramatic weather

The Met Office has issued a three-day storm warning for most of the UK, raising concerns about the impact on hay fever and asthma sufferers Stuti Mishra 17 August 2022 07:10 1660715673

Scotland receives a week’s rainfall in 24 hours

Parts of Scotland have seen heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours as the country is hit by torrential rain and is on yellow alert. The amount of rainfall received in many pockets exceeds that generally seen in a whole week in early August. The BBC reported that Strathallan near Perth had seen 55.2 millimeters (2 inches) of rain in less than 24 hours. That’s 71 per cent of the 77mm the region normally sees in the whole of August. Houghton Hall in Norfolk saw 17mm (0.7in) of rain in an hour on Tuesday afternoon, the report said. The heavy rain also caused travel chaos with local media reporting train delays and traffic disruptions. ScotRail had warned passengers to expect delays on some routes as speed restrictions were in place due to heavy rain. Trains were limited to 40mph, or 20mph if the usual speed limit is lower. Network Rail also said it had to deal with flooding at Perth station. Traffic Scotland warned that surface water was affecting many routes and urged drivers to take care. Network Rail Scotland brochure photo of flooding at Perth station after heavy rain (PA) Stuti Mishra 17 August 2022 06:54 1660713973

Video: Flood pools in south Wales as motorists struggle to navigate roads

Motorists struggled to navigate as torrential rain caused flooding on Welsh roads. Footage shows cars driving through a flooded road in Port Talbot. Heavy flooding to cars in Wales The Met Office has issued a yellow storm warning for Wales and England until midnight and warned that conditions could be life-threatening. Stuti Mishra 17 August 2022 06:26 1660711931

The photos show logging and flooding after a downpour

Images and videos have emerged from across the UK of flash flooding in areas hit by storms since Monday. People are sharing images of logging on roads and inside their homes as the rain is expected to continue. The rain has mainly affected southern England and Wales as well as the Midlands and East Anglia. The Environment Agency currently has 19 flood warnings in place for parts of the Midlands and south-east England as wet weather continues to batter Britain. Stuti Mishra 17 August 2022 05:52 1660709392

Five Sheffield roads closed due to flooding

Major roads have been flooded in Sheffield after heavy rain hit the area. Local media reports that Abbeydale Road is completely flooded after the rain. South Yorkshire Police asked people to avoid all five of these routes. Flooding has also been reported outside Woodseats Medical Center in Chesterfield Road, Woodseats. A car is also stranded and partially submerged in water in High Street, Beighton. Stuti Mishra 17 August 2022 05:09 1660707994

Today’s forecast for England and Wales

Further torrential rain and thunderstorms are expected today, according to the Met Office, but some areas will be drier and sunnier. “While some parts will miss them, thunderstorms and areas of heavy rain will develop quite widely on Wednesday across central, southern and eastern parts of England and south-east Wales,” it said. “20-30mm of rain within an hour is possible, but where areas of rain with thunderstorms develop slowly, some parts could see 60mm in less than three hours.” “Some spots could see more rainfall than that, while hail and lightning could be additional risks.” The Environment Agency had issued 29 flood warnings by last night.

Torrential rain and thunderstorms are forecast across England and Wales

The Environment Agency had issued 29 flood warnings by Tuesday night. Stuti Mishra August 17, 2022 4:46 am