Thunderstorms are set to batter London and large parts of southern England this afternoon, with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning from 1pm until 10pm tonight.
The warning covers a vast area from Kent to Dorset, including major cities such as Brighton, Southampton and Portsmouth. Londoners face potential travel chaos during the evening rush hour as forecasters predict heavy downpours of up to 30mm of rain within hours.
The most severe storms could dump 40-50mm of rain in isolated areas, accompanied by frequent lightning, hail and gusts reaching 40mph. Urban areas already saturated from recent rainfall face the highest risk of flash flooding.
Transport networks are bracing for disruption, with surface water flooding likely to cause sudden road closures and delays across rail services. The Met Office warns residents to expect possible power cuts and building damage from lightning strikes.
Commuters are advised to check travel updates before setting off and avoid driving through flooded roads. The storms' exact path remains uncertain, meaning some areas within the warning zone may escape the worst conditions whilst others face significant disruption.