Flood warnings put in place as storms follow warm spell

Flooding is expected to wash away the warmest spring equinox in more than 50 years as thunderstorms traditionally associated with summer are brought forward by climate change, the Met Office has said.

- BARNEY DAVIS

Twenty-one alerts, where flooding is deemed possible by the Environment Agency, were yesterday in place across the South West and Midlands, with flooding expected in the Bourne Valley, Wiltshire. Frost was expected to return to rural areas as temperatures plunged overnight.

The Met Office told travellers to “take care” as “there could be some localised flooding in places” just days after the UK saw its warmest spring equinox day since 1972 on Thursday, with temperatures reaching 21C.

Despite the warm spring weather, National Highways had to close parts of the M18 in Yorkshire to clear floodwater on Saturday following heavy rain.