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| FLOODY HELL: Sweeping water off the course and a spectator seals himself in against rain [REUTERS] |
LIGHTNING and torrential rain caused havoc The Open as forecasters warned that the British summer was “on hold”.
Play was delayed for almost four hours yesterday morning after storms flooded the course at St Andrews.
And the weather caused chaos for commuters as lightning struck the
signalling system at Dullingham, near Newmarket, Suffolk, causing cancellations and delays.
Shops, businesses and roads in East Anglia were flooded, with locals describing the “worst storms in living memory”.
Giant hailstones the size of pound coins rained down on the region in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Experts said some parts of Cambridgeshire saw half the
month’s rainfall come down in just
five hours.
The basement of Cambridge’s
Addenbrooke’s Hospital was flooded, putting scheduled surgery on hold until Tuesday.
Forecasters say July is set to become a damp squib, with plunging temperatures and heavy rain after weeks of glorious sunshine.
And weather experts warned Brits not to bother with barbecues and suncream this weekend.
Met Office forecaster Nicola Maxey said: “Today will see some showers again in Scotland, although England and Wales will be drier.
“But there is another low coming in tomorrow, bringing more strong winds and showers into the start of next week.”
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| TRAFFIC JAM: Cars piled up in fl ooded Perthshire street [PERTHSHIRE PICTURE AGENCY] |
There will be chaos on UK roads this weekend as 2.6 million excited holidaymakers start their summer breaks.
The RAC’s Pete Williams warned that the shocking weather will make busy motorways even more hazardous.
He said: “Summer holiday traffic is going to be concentrated on our roads this coming weekend, causing gridlock and delays for many on the busiest getaway roads.
“Our advice is to set the alarm clocks early and get away before the traffic builds.”
Gordon Moir, the course spokesman for St Andrews in Scotland – where this year’s Open championship is being held – said it was a “little bit
disappointing” play was halted yesterday.
Source : Daily Star
Posted by Adebayo A J