UK weather: warning of floods from thundery showers after drought

Meteorologists say expected downpours are the wrong kind of rain to tackle driest spell for almost 50 years

After the driest spell for almost 50 years, the UK is now being warned to expect flooding from thundery showers that will offer little relief from the drought.

The flood alert follows days of extreme heat warnings and the official declaration of a drought after the longest nine-month dry spell since 1976. Meteorologists warned that downpours are the wrong kind of rain to tackle the drought and are more likely to lead to floods from water running off parched earth.