Thunderstorms sweeping across the UK have caused major disruption at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, delaying nearly 800 flights by up to 11 hours. According to FlightAware, 377 flights arriving at or departing from Heathrow have been delayed, while another 399 flights have been impacted at Gatwick. Dozens more flights have been cancelled.
Delays of up to 11 hours
Arrival boards at Heathrow show a British Airways flight from Santiago, Chile, scheduled to land at 10am, now expected at 9pm — an 11-hour delay. Eurocontrol, the European air traffic control agency, said flights must avoid a broad area of hot, unstable air stretching from northern Spain to southern Sweden and the south of the UK.
Storms cause damage on the ground
The storms have also caused damage on the ground. A home in Crawley was damaged by a lightning strike, and a property in Streatham, South London, had its roof destroyed in a fire sparked by an overnight lightning bolt. The UK air traffic control service warned that weather disruption was expected to continue through the rest of the day, with a large degree of uncertainty over where storms would develop overnight.
Heatwave warning extended
The amber weather warning for extreme heat has been extended again, with temperatures of 33°C expected to linger over London, the South East, and East Anglia until 9pm tomorrow. The heatwave, which has given way to storms, continues to affect travel and safety across the region.
