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Overnight storms bring flooding across TfL network

Amy Clarke
News imageWeather Watchers/Sable D Lightning strikes over a dark London skyline at night, illuminating low storm clouds above silhouetted buildings including a tall glass skyscraper.Weather Watchers/Sable D
News imageWeather Watchers/Peter Barratt Lightning forks across a dark, stormy sky above silhouetted trees, illuminating thick clouds during a night-time thunderstorm.Weather Watchers/Peter Barratt
Lightning strikes could be spotted across London during the early hours
The storm as seen in Hornchurch, east London

Thunderstorms and heavy overnight rain have caused significant disruption across parts of London, including at Heathrow Airport.

There is currently no Elizabeth Line service between Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 and Terminal 4 due to flooding caused by the downpour and the Heathrow Express is running a reduced service in both directions.

The disruption follows intense storms in the early hours of 23 June. London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it had handled about 400 calls since midnight, most of them related to flooding affecting homes and roads.

Firefighters also attended at least two house fires, which are believed to have been triggered by lightning strikes during the storms.

Flooding has also affected other transport services. On the London Tramlink network, there is no service between Sandilands and Elmers End or Beckenham Junction because of floodwater on the tracks.

Earlier this morning Balham station was closed due to flooding, but has since reopened.

Other areas across southern England were also hit by the lightning strikes overnight and a house in Bristol was reportedly set ablaze during a storm earlier in the evening.

It comes as England braces for temperatures of up to 40C, with the Met Office issuing a rare red alert set to come into force on Wednesday.

LFB Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: "It has been a very busy night for our Control Officers, firefighters and officers. Shortly after 04:00 BST, due to a large number of calls received by the Brigade.

"Whilst the worst of the rain now seems to have passed, we continue to work through outstanding calls as well as receive new incidents as Londoners wake to see some of the damage caused by the storms overnight."

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