Severe thunderstorms sweeping across Bristol on Monday evening have caused significant disruption at Bristol Airport and sparked a house fire in Emersons Green after a lightning strike. The house roof became engulfed in flames, with neighbours capturing the blaze on video as smoke billowed into the sky.
Lightning Strike Sets House on Fire
At approximately 6:53 PM on June 22, a lightning bolt during a thunderstorm struck a house in Emersons Green, causing the roof to catch fire. Witnesses reported that fire crews arrived quickly and that all residents evacuated safely. Video footage shows firefighters using a hose to battle the fierce flames.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the incident, stating that crews worked to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to neighbouring properties. No injuries were reported.
Flights Grounded at Bristol Airport
Bristol Airport experienced major disruption as flights were grounded due to the extreme thunderstorm warning. According to traffic monitoring service Inrix, planes were unable to fly, with the update posted at 6:53 PM. Passengers were advised to check with their airlines before travelling.
Five flights carrying approximately 850 passengers were diverted from Bristol to Gatwick Airport. EasyJet reportedly arranged coaches to transport passengers back to Bristol.
Met Office Yellow Weather Warning
The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms valid until 9 PM on Monday. The warning highlighted the risk of frequent lightning, gusty winds, torrential rain, and hail. A Met Office spokesperson said: "An area of thunderstorms moving east across the area will bring a spell of frequent lightning, gusty winds, torrential rain, and a few places, hail. The storms will be moving quickly reducing the potential for widespread large amounts of rain, but there is a few places could see 20-25 mm of rainfall in a short period in the most active storms, which could bring some brief flooding."
The spokesperson added: "The majority of impacts are likely to come from other hazards however, such as lightning striking buildings and causing power cuts, difficult driving conditions in heavy rain, and some localised damage to vulnerable structures by strong wind gusts or hail."
Impact on Travel and Safety
Inrix reported: "Disruption at Bristol Airport as flights are currently grounded due to flash thunderstorms. Passengers should check before they travel." The grounding affected multiple airlines and caused delays for hundreds of travellers. Lightning strikes were also reported across the region, with residents advised to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
