Warm weather is expected to return to London following flash floods and torrential rain
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)London is set to experience a summer heatwave this week after flash floods and torrential rain hit parts of the capital on Monday night.
Forecasters have said conditions will become warmer throughout the week, with temperatures predicted to reach 30C (86F) in central and western areas on Sunday.
Temperatures will steadily rise, with 28 or 29C (84F) possible on Saturday and it will be slightly hotter on Sunday.
"High pressure will dominate this weekend to bring fine and increasingly warm weather," Sky News meteorologist Kirsty McCabe said.
Ms McCabe added most places will be dry with “strong summer sunshine in the coming days”.
It comes after flash floods in London on Monday evening which caused travel chaos as a number of train lines and Tube stations were forced to close.
Friend’s video of Portobello Road. Crazy. pic.twitter.com/JE5i6C0C6Q
— Sophia Money-Coutts (@sophiamcoutts) July 12, 2021
The capital’s roads were also awash after nearly three inches of rain fell in just 90 minutes.
Videos on social media showed the extent of the heavy rainfall on Monday, mainly affecting south west and north west London, including boroughs such as Richmond and Kingston.
You should see what’s happening at Sloane Square. pic.twitter.com/FKfuP4bDfq
— James aka Chunk (@chunkyboyjames) July 12, 2021
One user shared a video of Portobello Road fully flooded, while another posted a clip of water pouring in down the stairs at Sloane Square tube station.
Pictures also emerged of people swimming in ponds created by the thunderstorms on Primrose Hill.
Never seen people swimming in Primrose Hill before! pic.twitter.com/c7crmzgzK1
— Tom Foot (@tomfoot1) July 12, 2021
London Fire Brigade said it had taken more than 1,000 calls related to flooding and urged residents to call only in a "genuine emergency".
More than 4cm (1.57in) of rain fell overnight. The record is 4.11cm, falling in 10 minutes in Lausanne during a storm in August 2018, broadcaster SRF said.
