Heavy rain hits London as Sadiq Khan warns downpours could lead to 'flash flooding'

The Met Office forecast suggests that there could be more to come, with more showers predicted through the rest of the day.Heavy rain in Woolwich on ThursdayLSAccording to the national forecaster’s rain tracker, showers began sweeping across the capital from around 12.20pm, and more are expected to come sporadically through this evening.As much as 32mm of rain per hour fell in parts of the capital, including Hounslow and Woolwich.It comes after England saw the driest July on record - with no meaningful rain in London.The “flash drought” has left millions in the capital under a hosepipe ban as reservoir levels drop, while turning the capital’s green spaces yellow and brown. The hard, baked ground could make London more susceptible to flash flooding, as Sir Sadiq warned in a post on X.The mayor wrote: “When heavy rain falls on hard, baked ground, water runs off much more quickly, increasing the risk of flash flooding.”When severe flash flooding hit London in 2021, rain caused damage and disruption to homes and businesses across the city, with many Londoners forced to stay elsewhere as their homes were flooded with stormwater and sewage. The mayor also shared government advice, telling Londoners to check the drains outside their homes and to prepare a flood kit.