Thunderstorms and torrential rain sparked widespread disruption across Britain today after around 3,000 lightning strikes hit London in just two hours, as Bristol Airport was forced to close and rail services were thrown into chaos. A violent band of storms swept across southern England overnight, bringing flash flooding, power cuts and travel disruption before Britain braces for what could become one of the hottest days ever recorded in the UK later this week.Bristol Airport was forced to temporarily suspend operations after a fault developed with its air traffic control systems, with passengers advised to contact their airlines for updates on delayed and cancelled flights.Meanwhile, hundreds of homes in Glastonbury were left without electricity after thunderstorms swept across the West Country.The Met Office has said there were around 29,074 lightning strikes recorded across southern Britain overnight, including a majority over Somerset of 18,540 and an estimated 3,000 over London.The storms are expected to give way to soaring temperatures as a powerful 'heat dome' builds across western Europe, with forecasters warning Britain could experience its hottest June day on record.June's longstanding UK temperature record of 35.6C, set in Hampshire in 1976, is forecast to be challenged as temperatures climb towards 40C across parts of England and Wales on Wednesday and Thursday.The UK Health Security Agency has issued a red Heat Health Alert covering London, the South East, South West, East of England, East Midlands and West Midlands from 1am on Wednesday until 11pm on Thursday.The alert warns there is a 'risk to life for even the healthy population' and highlights the potential impact on transport, power supplies, water resources and businesses. A bolt of lightning behind Stonehenge in Wiltshire on Monday eveningWow, that was the largest lightning storm I've seen over London in some time. Almost 3,000 strikes recorded in the last two hours alone 🌩️And with first light at 3.55am, London has gone from complete darkness to thunderstorms to full daylight in the space of an hour! pic.twitter.com/SO6nZnjWzM— James Cosgrove (@MrJamesCosgrove) June 23, 2026 A lightning strike is believed to have caused a house fire in Bristol Met Office amber weather warning in place for Tuesday for most of Southern England Amber and red weather warnings in place for Wednesday and Thursday across the UK