UK weather: Storms set for Britain bringing thunder, lightning and torrential downpours

Storms are set to hit Britain on Tuesday bringing thunder, lightning and torrential downpours with as much as 60mm of rain in a few hours.

Five yellow “be aware” rain warnings have been issued by the Met Office across various parts of England, including northern England, the east of England and London and the South East.

A band of rain passing close to the southeast of England and spreading westwards on Tuesday morning will be coupled with thunder and lighting, causing winds to increase with northerly gales on coasts as well as a risk of flash flooding.

“A thundery low will pass close to the southeast of England, bringing a band of rain with it. This is likely to contain thundery elements and locally very intense rain, bringing the risk of 20mm in the hour and more than 60mm in a few hours,” the Met Office's chief forecaster's assessment said.

Outbreaks of rain, which could become torrential at times, are set to affect parts of eastern England through Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.

“A slow moving frontal will bring very moist and unstable air,” said the Met Office. “Rainfall totals are likely to be in the region of 15 to 25mm, but near coasts and windward hills, local totals of more than 50mm are quite possible.”

Severe storms sweeping across Europe over the weekend have led to a series of calamities. An eight-year-old boy was still critically ill in a Parisian hospital on Sunday night after lightning struck a children’s birthday party in a popular park in the French capital.

Two people were killed by storms in mountains in southern Poland, while more than 30 people were taken to the hospital after lightning struck a children’s football match in Germany.

Despite the threat of downpours temperatures are expected to remain above 20C in east England on Tuesday and the wet weather will abate as the week continues.