Hundreds of cars parked at Heathrow Airport were swamped by floodwater on Wednesday morning after torrential rain hit London, leaving rows of vehicles sitting in a flash flood in west London. Video posted on social media showed the scale of the damage, with car after car surrounded by standing water.
A Heathrow spokesperson said a localised water issue affected a Heathrow car park operated by a third-party parking provider. The airport told passengers who believe their vehicle may have been affected to contact their parking operator and, if necessary, their motor insurer.
The flooding came as London was hit by thunder, hail and torrential rain, with temperatures falling to as low as 9C in the afternoon. It was a sharp reminder of how quickly spring weather can turn in the capital, and how exposed car parks can be when heavy rain arrives all at once.
That wet spell may not last. Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said temperatures could rise above average from Thursday onwards, with some areas reaching about 20 degrees by the end of next week. She said conditions could be warmer still by the May 25 bank holiday weekend, with parts of the South East possibly getting into the mid 20s.
Shuttleworth said the outlook is not yet fixed because it is still 10 days away, but added that the broad trend is clear: less cloud, more sunshine and lighter winds. For the motorists who woke up to flooded cars at Heathrow, the forecast offers little immediate comfort. The cleanup and the insurance calls come first.
