Lightning storm shocks UK: 30,000 strikes overnight cause flooding, fires, and travel chaos

Putting an end to the UK’s hottest day of the year, more than 30,000 lightning strikes lit up the sky overnight, unleashing a wave of flash floods, fires, and travel disruption across parts of England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.

The storms rolled in after 10 pm on Friday(June 13), just hours after the mercury soared to 29.4°C in West Suffolk, topping the previous 2025 high of 29.3°C set in London on May 1. In Scotland, Lossiemouth recorded a yearly high of 25.7°C.

But with heat came humidity, and then came the storms.

According to the Met Office, the majority of lightning strikes hit over the sea, but intense downpours affected many coastal and inland areas. In Kent, the Dover region was hit hard, with Kent Fire and Rescue responding to multiple calls to pump out flooded homes and assist residents.

Home caught fire

A home in St Leonards-on-Sea caught fire after a suspected lightning strike late Friday. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the blaze had been safely extinguished, with no casualties reported.

Flights delayed

Flights at Heathrow Airport were delayed due to “adverse weather conditions,” while train services between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton were suspended due to a landslip, National Rail reported. Disruptions are expected until at least Saturday evening.Meanwhile, Devon recorded 36.4mm of rain at North Wyke, and five flood warnings were issued in the South West by the Environment Agency, all of which were lifted by Saturday afternoon.

Weather warnings remain in place, with yellow alerts for thunderstorms covering parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and northern England until 6 p.m. Saturday. The Met Office warned that isolated areas could receive up to 80mm of rain in just a few hours.

“We urge people not to drive through flood water,” said Katharine Smith of the Environment Agency. “Just 30cm of fast-moving water is enough to float a car.”

The storms marked a sharp turn in the weather. After a humid buildup over the past week, experts say such volatility is becoming more common due to climate-induced changes in atmospheric moisture and pressure patterns.

By Saturday afternoon, temperatures had fallen to the low to mid-20s across the southeast and the high teens elsewhere, with showers expected to continue through the weekend.

Emergency services remain on high alert, and communities from Kent to Moray are left mopping up the damage.