A small tornado hit Luton as streets were submerged and cars abandoned when heavy downpours battered towns outside London.
Footage has captured debris - including a trampoline - being thrown high into the air and swirling around during the heavy storm on Sunday.
Motorists looked on in shock as a thick cloud appeared to spin above their heads while they drove through blustery conditions at around 4pm on Sunday afternoon.
Mini Tornado hitting Luton, Bedfordshire a few hours ago today. @bbcweather @BBCNews #weather #tornado #luton @LDNLutonAirport @LutonOnSunday pic.twitter.com/FASIp7E9pb
— Ilford South (@IlfordSouth) September 22, 2024
Videos of the tornado’s aftermath showed part of a roof had been destroyed by the storm while loose bricks could be seen outside one home where a structure had collapsed.
Five schools were forced to shut in Bedford on Monday, while another school was only open for Year 11 pupils and children at its Autism Resource Centre, amid flooding across the nearby area.
Woah!!
— Met4Cast. (@Met4CastUK) September 22, 2024
Certainly up there with some of the best tornado footage i’ve seen for the UK, near Luton just after 4pm.
pic.twitter.com/FlcljjUr0J
Several vehicles have been left stranded in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire as residents rushed to clear drains following the heavy rain.
Police confirmed a number of road closures across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire following “substantial flooding” overnight.
Heavy rainfall on Sunday into Monday meant areas such as Dunstable and Hitchin were partially submerged.
Bedfordshire Police said it had closed off part of Dunstable High Street due to “substantial flooding”, with footage shared on social media showing cars battling knee-deep water around the Saracen’s Head pub.
Central Bedfordshire Council said flooding had also hit Flitwick, Cranfield and Marston Moretaine.
North Hertfordshire Police have also advised motorists to avoid some parts of Hitchin, including Walsworth Road near the town centre.
Meanwhile in London, streets in Colliers Wood have been flooded with water reaching shopfronts.
Residents in Hitchin also reported heavy flooding.
The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning until 9pm for millions in areas such as Birmingham, Hull and Nottingham, meaning homes and businesses could be flooded and power cuts are likely.
The forecaster warned some areas will see 60-80 mm of rainfall and a few places may receive 100-120mm or more.
A wider yellow weather alert has been issued for most of England and parts of Wales until midnight.
Streets could be forced to close due to flooding in London and trains and buses may be hit by delays.
