In pictures: ‘Spectacular’ lightning strikes parts of UK

GB news 24 desk//

Thunderstorms and torrential rain are sweeping across parts of southern Britain, with frequent lightning flashing across the sky.

Around 15,000 lightning strikes were recorded in four hours on Saturday night, BBC Weather said.

The thunderstorms swept northwards across the south of England, the Midlands and Wales and are expected to continue throughout Sunday.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for heavy rain and flooding.

Many people got out their cameras to photograph and video the electrical storm, which was called “utterly insane” and “like being under a strobe light”.

lightning illuminating the sky over the Southbank on the River Thames in London — Image captionBolts of lightning flash across the sky over the River Thames in this photo taken by the RNLI late on Saturday night

The sky over Hayling Island, off the south coast of England — Image captionA dramatic and purple sky was photographed over Hayling Island, off the south coast of England near Portsmouth, as thunderstorms moved northwards across the mainland

Others remarked that they had “never seen a storm quite like this” and said the flashes were “stunning”.

Another woman remarked it was “like a rave outside”.

Andrew Lanxon Hoyle/@Batteryhq of lightning over the the Suleymaniye Mosque in Dalston, east London — Image captionBolts light up the sky over the the Suleymaniye Mosque in Dalston, east London

Image caption‘It took me ages to get this shot’ said Kate, who photographed the sky over Camden in London

BBC Weather presenter Tomasz Schafernaker called it the “mother of all thunderstorms” as he watched it over London.

“Oh boy! This utterly insane,” he said.

“I’ve never seen a storm with such frequent lightning in my life I don’t think. Mostly sheet lightning and not too loud but flashes are spectacular.”

Lightning across the sky at Swiss Farm touring and camping — Image captionPaul Greenford was in a caravan at a campsite in Henley-on-Thames when the heavy rain and lightning storm struck

West Dorset — Image captionHarry Neary, who began setting up his camera once he noticed the lightning flashes, photographed bolts near the village of Broadwindsor in Dorset

Forecaster Gemma Plumb, from BBC Weather, said as the storms push northwards across England throughout Sunday, more are coming up over the English Channel from the continent.

The Met Office weather warning for rain is in force until 6:00 BST on Monday and covers all of Wales as well as southern and central England.

Flooding of homes and businesses could happen quickly, the Met Office said. It added that fast-flowing or deep floodwater is possible with damage to some buildings from flooding, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.

It comes after a warm Bank Holiday Saturday, with a top temperature of 27.3C in Hurn, Dorset.