Hail 'the size of garden peas' sweeps in as lightning strikes set hospital and house on fire with warnings of MORE thunder and heavy showers for the rest of the week
The UK has been hit by brief spells of hot sunshine followed by extreme weather events, including giant hailstone and lightning strikes setting buildings on fire.
Hailstones estimated to be the size of peas landed on a Earls Barton in Northampton.
Also stormy weather caused havoc in Greater Manchester as a lightning hit Trafford General Hospital and set the rood ablaze, which resulted in a number of patients being evacuated to safety.
Firefighters were called to the blaze on the roof of a building at the Manchester hospital at 2.20pm this afternoon.
They took nearly hours to get the blaze under control, finally extinguishing it at 4.15pm.
In a statement, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: 'Just after 2.20pm this afternoon, seven fire engines were called to reports of a fire at a building on Moorside Road in Flixton.
'Crews were quickly on the scene, joined by the aerial ladder platform from Manchester Central fire station, and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are currently using two hose reels and a jet to tackle a fire involving the roof of a two-storey building.
The shocking photographs were captured in Northampton as erratic conditions on Wednesday follow a week of downpours across the country with both amber and yellow weather warnings in place
Witnesses said the blaze broke out this afternoon after the hospital on Moorside road was struck by lightning. Pictured, the scene which shows smoke bellowing out of the top of the hospital
Shoppers take cover under an umbrella as heavy rain falls on Oxford Street in central London
Heavy rain, lightning and hail 'the size of garden peas' have caused disruption across the UK, with the Met Office predicting further stormy weather to come.
Firefighters were called to the blaze on the roof of a building at the Manchester hospital at 2.20pm this afternoon
Crews are at the fire on Arncliffe Road, Halewood, where the roof of a house caught alight in the extreme weather
In a statement, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: 'Just after 2.20pm this afternoon, seven fire engines were called to reports of a fire at a building on Moorside Road in Flixton'
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the hospital was struck by lightning which caused a fire in an area of the roof.
It added that patients and staff had been safely evacuated.
A total of 66 patients from ward and clinical areas were safely evacuated to other parts of the hospital.
The Minor Injuries Unit is expected to reopen on Thursday morning and outpatient appointments will go ahead as planned.
GMFRS area manager Carlos Meakin told reporters that significant damage had been caused to the roof, with the timbers 'pretty much burnt through'.
It comes as a house in Halewood, Merseyside, caught alight after also being struck by lightning.
Firefighters are currently fighting the house fire on Arncliffe Road.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Services said all occupants of the house have been accounted for but the incident is ongoing.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the hospital was struck by lightning which caused a fire in an area of the roof
A witness who lives in nearby flats said she was on the fourth floor and saw the 'massive flash' of lightning that hit the house.
She told the Liverpool Echo: 'Basically I was sitting in the flat, on the fourth floor just over the road, and thunder and lightning was going on then next minute there was a massive flash and bang.
'I said 'what the hell is that?'. I knew it wasn't normal lightning because it was like an explosion. It was an explosive bang. I thought it was an explosion.
'Then we seen through the window the smoke pouring out of the house.'
The woman, who didn't want to be named, said that the damage is visible and is mainly on the roof. She added: 'I can see the damage from binoculars, it's all on the roof. It looks like the lightning stuck the roof and went down through the house.
Pictured, the fire on Arncliffe Road, Halewood, where the roof of the house is alight following a lightning strike. A spokesman has said all occupants of the house have been accounted for
A Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using hose reel jets to extinguish the fire. The combined platform ladder is being used to fight the fire from above'
Pictured, photographs taken in a Stoke street of hailstone pouring down as extreme weather hits certain parts of the UK
'I thought it might even be a gas explosion at first because the bang was terrible. I just thought I hope everyone is ok.'
A Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using hose reel jets to extinguish the fire. The combined platform ladder is being used to fight the fire from above.
'A structural engineer has been requested to attend the incident.'
Britain today faced flash floods as forecasters warned of more than three inches of rain and a 'danger to life'.
Thunderstorms and torrential downpours swept across much of the country today with the Met Office warning the rain could be so heavy that it might spark power cuts and leave some communities cut off.
Many areas of northern England and Scotland were under a 'yellow' weather warning this afternoon and evening with a more severe 'amber' warning in place for the Highlands amid fears over 'fast flowing or deep floodwater'.
Up to 3.1in (80mm) is expected to fall in the worst-hit areas and heavy showers will continue throughout this week, but meteorologists added that sunny spells will break through the gloom at times.
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Heavy rain pounds central London as extreme weather continues following mass flooding across parts of the capital over the weekend
Over the past few weeks, rain has battered the UK, particularly in London where areas including Walthamstow, Woodford and Stepney Green have seen severe flooding
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said yesterday that following a meeting with the Environment Agency, London's boroughs and other key partners, he will be doing all that he can to tackle flooding and climate change
Britain today faced flash floods as forecasters warned of more than three inches of rain and a 'danger to life'
People stand under an umbrella as they are caught in torrential downpours on Whitehall in Westminster today
Pedestrians are caught in heavy downpours in Westminster today after much of the UK was placed under a weather warning
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has imposed 15 flood alerts for areas including Dundee, Aberdeenshire and Fife, while England's Environment Agency put out one alert on the Isle of Wight.
Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington said: 'Yellow warnings are in place across much of the UK, away from the south, for thunderstorms and heavy rain over the coming days. Scotland, however, is expected to see some of the heaviest rain and amber warnings for thunderstorms and also rain have been issued here.'
Stephen Dixon, a Met Office spokesman, said: 'The rain can cause potential flooding and travel disruption. There is the potential for 80mm to 100mm over 24 hours, but more likely 60mm more widely across that amber area.
'There can possibly be lightning and hail in areas of Scotland. Not everywhere within the warning areas will see heavy rain, rainfall amounts will vary from place to place. The rainfall could lead to some surface water flooding and disruption before it eases and moves south through Thursday.'
A pedestrian jumps over a puddle as they cross the road during heavy rain in London this afternoon
People shelter under umbrellas during heavy torrential downpours in Westminster this morning
People jump over a puddle as they cross the road during torrential downpours in Central London this afternoon
Flash flooding on Ormskirk Road in Aintree, Merseyside, as the Met Office issued weather warnings across Britain
Holidaymakers enjoy warm sunny spells on the beachat the seaside resort of Lyme Regis
Holidaymakers next to the harbour get caught in a heavy rain shower at the seaside resort of West Bay in Dorset on a day of sunshine, showers and strong gusty winds
Up to 3.1in (80mm) is expected to fall in the worst-hit areas and heavy showers will continue throughout this week, but meteorologists added that sunny spells will break through the gloom at times
On the roads, the RAC and Highways England have advised drivers to be cautious in the rain. They warned motorists to leave a larger gap than normal between the car in front of them when stopping
Over the past few weeks, rain has battered the UK, particularly in London where areas including Walthamstow, Woodford and Stepney Green have seen severe flooding.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said yesterday that following a meeting with the Environment Agency, London's boroughs and other key partners, he will be doing all that he can to tackle flooding and climate change.
He said: 'Through the new London Plan, we're now reducing the risk of surface water flooding with every new development, but whether it's prioritising more green spaces to help absorb excess water or investing more in upgrading our drainage and sewer infrastructure, dealing with the impacts of climate change is something that cannot wait a day longer.'
On the roads, the RAC and Highways England have advised drivers to be cautious in the rain. They warned motorists to leave a larger gap than normal between the car in front of them when stopping.
Three sailors are rescued after their yacht is battered by 100mph gusts and rough seas during thunderstorm
Three sailors were rescued after their yacht was battered by 100mph gusts and rough seas during a thunderstorm, leaving two with head injuries.
One member of the crew suffered a serious head injury and another had a minor wound onboard the 37ft sailing catamaran after it was hit by an 87-knot gust off the West Sussex coast.
Damage to the vessel left the sailors without navigation and torn sails after getting caught in a thunderstorm off the Selsey Bill near Bognor Regis.
Lifeboats were dispatched at 2.52am yesterday morning after the boat reported all navigation aids had been lost and its sails and rigging had been ripped.
An all-weather lifeboat with a volunteer crew headed towards the yacht, which had three people on board and was five nautical miles southeast of Selsey Bill.
While on the way, it was reported that one of the crew members sustained a minor head injury.
The lifeboat arrived at 3.19am and the RNLI volunteers decided to tow the vessel to Chichester Harbour.
Half an hour later the skipper of the yacht said another crewman suffered a serious head injury, so the coxswain decided to drop the tow immediately and transfer a casualty care trained lifeboat crewman to the yacht to assess the injury.
Once the lifeboat crewman was aboard the yacht the injured crewman was checked and the injury was dressed. The stricken vessel was safely back at the harbour just before 6am.
A spokesman for the RNLI Selsey Lifeboat Station said: 'The 37ft sailing catamaran with three persons on board reported to UK Coastguards that they had lost all navigation aids, had ripped sails and rigging after experiencing strong winds including an 87-knot gust - approximately 100mph - and rough seas during a thunderstorm in a position 5 nautical miles southeast of Selsey Bill.
'There was no requirement for immediate evacuation, so the tow was established once again at 4.02am and a course set for Chichester harbour with the casualty with the head injury being monitored at all times and the lifeboat requested an ambulance meet them on arrival at the harbour.
'At 5.10am the Chichester harbour entrance was reached, and the tow continued into the harbour. At 5.50am the vessel was safely berthed alongside at Sparkes marina with the assistance of Hayling Coastguard rescue team.'