Guardsmen faint in London as Met Office issues 16-hour weekend thunderstorm warning

10 June 2023, 10:08 | Updated: 11 June 2023, 06:52

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning as a storm system carrying rain and hail prepares to hit the UK - after temperatures soared over Saturday leading a guardsman to faint in front of Prince William.

The warning, issued by weather forecasters on Saturday, predicts a two-day deluge this weekend, with sunny weather and soaring temperatures triggering a stormy system over the UK.

Set to cover central and southern areas of the UK, the forecast warns of a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with "damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds".

Spanning dozens of areas, the deluge looks set to last 16 hours from Saturday, June 10 to Sunday, June 11.

This comes as Britain swelters in 30C heat - leading to dramatic scenes as a guardsman fainted in a rehearsal for Trooping the Colour in front of the Prince of Wales.

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The Met Office warned of "spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures".

The news comes despite searing temperatures reaching as high as 31 degrees across parts of England.

It added that flooding or lightning strikes could result is delays and even cancellations to rail services across affected areas.

It follows a week of high temperates which saw the Met Office forced to issue heat warnings for swathes of the UK.

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It also warned of the possibility of power cuts, with "services to some homes and businesses could be temporarily lost".

Several inches of rain are expected to batter Britons in England, Scotland and Wales into Saturday evening, with "lightning strikes" likely, according to the Met Office statement.