Photos: 'Insane' lightning strikes parts of UK

The Met Office has warned of flooding and possible damage to buildings from lightning, which is pictured here striking over the city of London pic: REUTERS[/caption]

Thunderstorms and torrential rain are sweeping across parts of southern Britain, with frequent lightning flashing across the sky.

Around 15,000 lightning strikes were recorded in four hours on Saturday night, BBC Weather said. The thunderstorms swept northwards across the south of England, the Midlands and Wales and are expected to continue throughout Sunday. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for heavy rain and flooding. Many people got out their cameras to photograph and video the electrical storm, which was called “utterly insane” and “like being under a strobe light”.

lightning illuminating the sky over the Southbank on the River Thames in London

The sky over Hayling Island, off the south coast of England

Others remarked that they had “never seen a storm quite like this” and said the flashes were “stunning”. Another woman remarked it was “like a rave outside”.

Andrew Lanxon Hoyle/@Batteryhq of lightning over the the Suleymaniye Mosque in Dalston, east London

BBC Weather presenter Tomasz Schafernaker called it the “mother of all thunderstorms” as he watched it over London. “Oh boy! This utterly insane,” he said. “I’ve never seen a storm with such frequent lightning in my life I don’t think. Mostly sheet lightning and not too loud but flashes are spectacular.”

Lightning across the sky at Swiss Farm touring and camping

Forecaster Gemma Plumb, from BBC Weather, said as the storms push northwards across England throughout Sunday, more are coming up over the English Channel from the continent. The Met Office weather warning for rain is in force until 6:00 BST on Monday and covers all of Wales as well as southern and central England. Flooding of homes and businesses could happen quickly, the Met Office said. It added that fast-flowing or deep floodwater is possible with damage to some buildings from flooding, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds. It comes after a warm Bank Holiday Saturday, with a top temperature of 27.3C in Hurn, Dorset.