London, August 4 (Petra) - The UK marked the final day of an intense heatwave on Tuesday, with forecasters warning of severe thunderstorms and flash floods before conditions shift mid-week.

Temperatures exceeded 30 C across southern and eastern England, keeping yellow and amber heat-health alerts in effect through Wednesday morning, according to the BBC.

The Met Office issued thunderstorm warnings for parts of Northern Ireland. Heavy downpours could dump up to 30 mm of rain in one to two hours, accompanied by strong winds and hail, heightening the risk of sudden flooding.

The incoming rain will not offset the nation’s historic July drought, according to experts. Instead, baked soil will limit water absorption, accelerating runoff and heightening the flash flood threat.

//Petra// HA