"Zombie apocalypse': lightning storms cause chaos on Brighton rail line

Parts of Britain have been hit by flash flooding and travel disruption as hail and thunderstorms batter the south-east.

The severe weather has been described as a "zombie apocalypse".

The Met Office issued a severe weather warning today for the south-east of England as almost half a month's worth of rain fell in an hour in some places. Words:PA

Forecasters warned that a "deeply unstable airmass" had brought the risk of heavy thundery showers across East Anglia, the South East and London throughout the day.

A lightning strike sparked disruption for rail passengers during the morning rush hour, while firefighters rescued people from homes and cars hit by floods.

The lightning hit an electricity sub-station near Hove in Sussex, causing power to the coastal rail route to be cut, according to a Network Rail (NR) spokeswoman.

It caused delays of up to 30 minutes to journeys between Worthing and Hove and Brighton, which were expected to last into the afternoon.

Meanwhile trains were not calling call at Worthing station in the Hove direction due to flooding in a subway.

London Fire Brigade rescued two women from a car which got stuck in flood water near South Ruislip station, north-west London.

The fire service said on Twitter that 50 houses were also affected by flood water in the area.
Firefighters rescued five people from three neighbouring houses which were flooded in Thaxted,
Essex.

One family remained on the first floor of their home while crews pumped water from the property after flood water affected the electrics, a Essex Fire and Rescue spokesman said.

Morning commuters also posted descriptions on Twitter of heavy hail and localised flooding caused by the storms.

Laurence Hill wrote: "Used to be roads. Now rivers of hail. Never seen anything like it."

Brighton and Hove Police posted: "Localised flooding in Hove and Portslade, some roads not passable. Please do not enter flood water on foot or in cars."

Brighton station tweeted: "At a stand west coastway #Worthing #Brighton Both ways due to zombie apocalypse."

South West Trains said Woking-bound trains would not be calling at Esher, Hersham or Walton-on-Thames because of flooding.

An East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said Brighton crews have been dealing with a "large number of weather-related emergency calls", including flooding and lightning strikes.

Sussex Police warned drivers to be careful as flash flooding hit Worthing, West Sussex, and Portslade and Mile Oak on the outskirts of Brighton and Hove.

Brighton and Hove City Council's headquarters also had to close after the basement flooded due to the heavy rain.

The Met Office issued a "yellow" warning of rain - meaning there is a "moderate risk" - for East Anglia, the South East and London. Some 30mm (1.2in) of rain - half the average monthly total for England in July - fell in an hour some areas overnight, a spokeswoman said.

Chief forecaster Steve Willington said: "A deeply unstable airmass will cover south eastern areas of England on Monday. The main risk of disruptive downpours is now early this morning, with only a very low risk during the afternoon period.

"These heavy showers and thunderstorms may become focused into slow-moving narrow bands, meaning that whilst some areas experience locally intense downpours giving 25mm within an hour and very locally 40mm within two to three hours, adjacent areas could stay dry. "

The Environment Agency issued a flood warning - meaning flooding is expected - for the Kidbrooke stream at Forest Row, East Sussex.

It said: "Heavy showers will bring a chance of some localised surface water flooding issues across parts of Sussex and Kent this afternoon.

"Further heavy showers are expected from around dawn tomorrow across much of south-east England which may result in some surface water flooding, especially in urbanised areas.

"In any one specific location within the South East, there is a very low chance of flood impacts, but flooding of properties and parts of communities and travel disruption is possible somewhere within
the region as a whole.

"Despite some heavy showers across north-west England today and tonight flooding is not expected elsewhere or at other times during the next three days."

A Southern Water spokesman said: "A month's worth of rain fell in two hours in Sussex this morning which has led to parts of our sewer network becoming overwhelmed by the sheer volume of water entering it. We are doing all we can to help customers affected by this."

The Met Office said 43mm (1.7in) of rain fell in an hour in Great Dunmow, Suffolk, between 4am and 5am.

Meanwhile, 37mm (1.5in) of rain was recorded in an hour in Isfield, Sussex, while 35mm (1.4in) fell in Ardingly, Sussex.

In Northolt, north-west London, 43.4mm (1.7in) of rain fell over a three-hour period this morning and in Santon Downham, Suffolk, 51.2mm (2in) of rain was recorded from 3am to 9am.

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