Thunderstorms are expected to rage across the UK in the days ahead, with forecasters predicting torrential downpours, “frequent” lightning strikes and possible power cuts.

The Met Office has warned there could also be delays and cancellations to trains and buses as well road closures due to the widespread storms.

Forecasters have issued a severe yellow warning for thunderstorms in Scotland for Monday and in Wales and southwest England for Tuesday, with drivers told to watch out for fast-moving floodwaters, hail and strong winds.

Although the southeast will enjoy largely dry and bright conditions over the next couple of days, there is no sign of the heatwave returning: storms are expected to sweep across most of England and central Scotland on Wednesday.

“The weather remains lively over the next few days,” said the Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir. “Some torrential downpours can’t be ruled out and we’re likely to see frequent lightning.”

Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne Show all 14 1 /14 Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne eastbourne-lightning-1000-1.jpg Handout photo taken with permission from the twitter feed of Mark Jarvis of a lightning storm in Eastbourne, as torrential rain and a Ã¢â¬Åspectacular electrical stormÃ¢â¬Â lashed parts of the UK overnight as unsettled weather continues to cause disruption across the country. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday June 19, 2019. Homes were left without power and roads were flooded in parts of the South East, while Lenham in Kent saw 42mm of rain in the space of just one hour. See PA story WEATHER Rain. Photo credit should read: Mark Jarvis/Twitter/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Mark Jarvis / PA Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne eastbourne-lightning-1000-2.jpg The skies over the seaside town were lit up repeatedly during a storm that spread across large parts of the South East and saw over 40mm of rain fall in some places. Mark Jarvis / PA Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne eastbourne-lightning-1000-14.jpg The surge of electricity from the lightning caused some problems with power going out in many houses and some roads having to be closed as traffic lights were taken out. Simon Anderson / @_overexposed_ Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne eastbourne-lightning-1000-6.jpg Sussex Roads Police urged road users to take care as "significant flooding" hit the A27 and A259 between Lewes and Hastings. Mark Jarvis / PA Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne eastbourne-lightning-1000-5.jpg Further north in Kent, the village of Lenham saw 42mm of rain over the course of the evening. Mark Jarvis / PA Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne eastbourne-lightning-1000-4.jpg A yellow weather warning remains in place across the east and south east of England until 9pm tonight. Mark Jarvis / PA Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne eastbourne-lightning-1000-13.jpg Simon Anderson / @_overexposed_ Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne eastbourne-lightning-1000-7.jpg Tom Welland / PA Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne eastbourne-lightning-1000-3.jpg Mark Jarvis / PA Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne eastbourne-lightning-1000-11.jpg Susan Pilcher / PA Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne eastbourne-lightning-1000-10.jpg PASusan Pilcher / PA Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne eastbourne-lightning-1000-9.jpg Susan Pilcher / PA Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne eastbourne-lightning-1000-8.jpg Susan Pilcher / PA Lightning strikes 1000 times in an hour in Eastbourne eastbourne-lightning-1000-12.jpg Wendy Howard / PA

Although some of the heavy rain experienced across England in recent days will clear throughout Monday, a second band of low pressure would see thunderstorms and heavy downpours arriving from the south west early on Tuesday morning.

“There’s definitely a risk of flooding,” said Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson. “Thunderstorms are a concern – there could be as much as 30mm to 40mm of rain. That’s quite a lot of rain flowing in quite a short period of time.”

The new weather warnings follows a weekend of heavy downpours with half a month’s worth of rain falling across parts of the UK leading to travel disruption and floods.

Vehicles stuck in several feet of water after flooding in Stockport, Manchester (PA / @cfbcity)

More than 20 flood warnings were in place across the Midlands and North West on Monday morning, according to Environment Agency.

Rochdale in Greater Manchester saw 100mm of rainfall – more than a month’s worth – in 48 hours, leaving a number of properties in the town centre flooded.

Emergency services attended several homes in Rochdale and properties in the nearby town of Littleborough affected by flooding, Rochdale Council said on Sunday.

The wet weather comes after a week in which Europe was hit by a record-breaking heatwave, with provisional figures suggesting Thursday may have been the UK's hottest-ever day, peaking at 38.7C in Cambridge.

Monday will see highs of 25C in southeast and 20C in the north of England. But temperatures are expected to dip slightly midweek before climbing again before the weekend.