Another hosepipe ban begins today – just in time for deluge of rain amid thunderstorm warnings for the north and south

Britain is on high alert for flash flooding over the coming days as thunderstorms strike the country with some areas braced for four inches of rain within a few hours.

Heavy downpours are likely across much of the UK bringing a risk of fast-flowing or deep floodwater and lightning strikes causing transport delays and power cuts.

It comes as the second major hosepipe ban came into force today, with restrictions activated by South East Water for 1.4million people across Kent and Sussex in Ashford, Canterbury, Eastbourne, Maidstone, Haywards Heath and Tunbridge Wells.

Yorkshire Water became the first major water firm to bring in a ban last Friday – and Southern Water restrictions will start in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from Monday.

Then from Tuesday, Thames Water will bring in a ban for customers in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, most of Wiltshire and some parts of Berkshire – but not London.

The Met Office has now issued six thunderstorm warnings over the next few days:

• Yellow – North East England, today, from 12pm until 8pm
• Yellow – South East England, today, from 9pm until 11.59pm
• Yellow – Most of England, tomorrow, from 0am until 9pm
• Amber – South East England, tomorrow, from 4am until 11am
• Yellow – Eastern Scotland, tomorrow, from 4pm until 12pm Sunday
• Yellow – South West England, Sunday, from 12pm until 3am Monday

Conditions will feel very humid today before the storms begin, with temperatures topping 30C (86F) in parts of central and southern England this afternoon.

Parts of North East England such as Durham and Yorkshire could see up to 25mm (1in) of rain in less than an hour, as well as frequent lightning and large hail.

An amber thunderstorm warning is in place for South East England tomorrow, from 4am to 11am

South East Water has begun a hosepipe ban in the grey shaded area of Kent and Sussex today

In the South, rain is predicted to be torrential from this evening – with up to 30mm (1.2in) falling in less than an hour.

Within the amber warning area tomorrow morning, up to 40mm (1.6in) is possible within an hour, and between 70mm (2.7in) and 100mm (4in) in just a few hours. 

The Met Office said: ‘Significant impacts are possible if this occurs over more urban areas.’

Tomorrow’s wider yellow warning area also covers the Greater Manchester region, where Oasis are playing their next two comeback gigs at Heaton Park tomorrow and on Saturday.

The Met Office said gusty winds, frequent lightning and hail are also likely – while spray and flooding could lead to difficulties for drivers and possible road closures.

Some communities could become cut off, while damage to homes and businesses is also possible and flash flooding could cause a ‘danger to life’.

On Sunday, widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue, moving northwards throughout the day.

But parts of the UK will also experience warm weather and brighter, drier spells today and throughout the weekend, particularly in East and South East England.

Alex Burkill, a meteorologist at the Met Office, warned that the high temperatures could become ‘quite uncomfortable’ in some parts of the country.

He said: ‘In the south and east, there is further chance of staying dry and some decent sunshine on offer.

‘So there’s a lot of heat around, high humidity as well, quite uncomfortable for some of us.

Downpours in London yesterday as a person sits across the Thames from the London Eye

The bed of Howden Reservoir at Bamford in the Peak District National Park on Wednesday

A man tries to keep a woman dry while walking in the rain at Newcastle Quayside on Tuesday

‘As we go into the weekend, with the heat and the humidity, there’s a fairly strong chance that we are going to see some heavy, thundery rain, feeding up from the south.

‘That is likely to become pretty widespread across much of the country as we go through Saturday and into Sunday.’

Next week is expected to continue to have unsettled weather, with a mixture of showers and thunderstorms and sunshine.

Temperatures will be warm depending on the sunshine and conditions may settle by mid-week with showers still in the east.

South East Water announced its hosepipe ban on July 11 as the ongoing dry weather and hot temperatures across England result in record-breaking water demand.

The firm said the ban means customers in Kent and Sussex will not be able to use hosepipes for activities such as watering gardens and washing cars, windows and patios, or filling swimming and paddling pools.

It will be enforced from today and until further notice, with those who ignore the ban facing fines of up to £1,000.

But there was disbelief from some residents, including one who tweeted: ‘Since I heard of a hosepipe ban in Kent a few days ago, I have passed no less than three underground pipes that appear to have broken, and water has been coming out, on main roads.’

Another tweeted: ‘Water leak on Batts Bridge Road, Uckfield. Water leak in London Road, Burgess Hill. And yet we are subject to a hosepipe ban. What a shambles.’

In response, South East Water wrote: ‘We understand it’s frustrating to see leaks when there’s a hosepipe ban. We’re seeing record demand for drinking water in Kent and Sussex.’

Rosie Duffield, the independent MP for Canterbury in Kent, said at the time of South East Water’s announcement last week that a hosepipe ban had been ‘inevitable’ after supply issues had already impacted some areas.

She added: ‘Alongside many residents, I am angry as to why this was not called earlier to help prevent the unacceptable shortages and disruption suffered by many in our area.’

People walk over the dry grass at Greenwich Park in South East London on Tuesday

Dried grounds surrounds pitches at Maidenhead and Bray Cricket Club in Berkshire on Tuesday

South East Water said in a statement last week: ‘Demand for drinking water in Kent and Sussex has reached record levels since May – with the ongoing warm and dry weather, we’re all using far more water than usual. 

‘This situation has left us with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, so we can help our reservoirs and underground water storage recover.

‘We also continue to monitor the situation in our Western region, where we serve customers in parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.’

Customers will only be allowed to use a hosepipe when it is required for unavoidable health or safety reasons, for the welfare of animals – including fish – and if the hosepipe is not connected to mains water supply, according to the water company. 

All four UK nations saw their warmest spring on record this year, with England experiencing the driest spring since 1893, according to the Met Office.

It has also been the driest start to the year since 1976 for England.

Rainfall across England was 20 per cent less than the long-term average for June, which was also the hottest on record for the country, with two heatwaves driving unusually high demand for water, the Environment Agency has said.

Drought was declared in East and West Midlands on Tuesday, with the region joining swathes of northern England in drought status.