Met Office issues urgent yellow thunderstorm warning

Parts of South East England were battered by torrential downpours today with more than an inch of rain falling in just an hour as trains were suspended due to flooding. The Met Office imposed a yellow thunderstorm warning for parts of East Sussex and Kent until 5pm, covering Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, Folkestone and Dover.

Some areas were told to expect 20mm (0.8in) to 25mm (1in) of rain in less than an hour, with 30mm (1.2in) to 40mm (1.6in) in one to two hours in a few locations. The alert, which was activated as soon as it was announced at 12.52pm today, comes amid concerns driving conditions will be affected by spray and standing water. Forecasters also warned of power cuts; damage to buildings and structures from lightning strikes; flooding of homes and businesses; and delays to public transport.

Train operator Southern said its services between Hastings and Ashford International had been cancelled this afternoon after the railway flooded and blocked all lines. As for the rest of the UK today, there will be scattered showers in other southern and western areas with a mix of bright spells and a few light showers elsewhere. Showers will slow fade this evening, although a few will continue across East Anglia and South West. Most other areas will see a combination of cloud and clear spells.

Further rain will develop across eastern England tomorrow, but it will be mostly dry elsewhere with the brightest conditions in the West where it will feel warm. Conditions should also be largely dry and fine across the South and East on Friday and Saturday, with patchy rain elsewhere. Showers could also develop on Sunday.

The wet weather comes after a dry and hot spring and three heatwaves so far this summer which left four regions of England in drought. England recorded its driest March to June period since 1893, and dry ground can make flooding more likely as it is unable absorb as much water.

Yesterday, England's fourth major hosepipe ban of summer came into force as Thames Water activated restrictions for 1.1 million customers. Homes served by the firm in parts of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Berkshire were hit by the ban following one of the driest springs on record.

Despite four days of downpours since Saturday, company bosses said they could not confirm when restrictions will end because it is 'generally waiting for rain'. Customers living in postcodes starting OX, GL, SN, RG4, RG8 and RG9 now have the ban - but it was avoided by London, which is also served by Thames Water.

The ban follows Southern Water activating restrictions for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on Monday. That followed other bans implemented by South East Water for parts of Kent and Sussex last Friday, and in the Yorkshire Water region since July 11.