More than two months of bone dry weather came to a dramatic end last night as lightning illuminated the skies of Suffolk.
%image(15314200, type="article-full", alt="Lightning flashes over Humber estuary near Hull as clouds obscure a view of the "Blood moon", the longest lunar eclipse of the century which sees Earth's natural satellite turn blood red Picture: DANNY LAWSON/PA WIRE")
The spectacular display followed the longest total lunar eclipse of the century – turning the moon a foreboding ‘blood’ red.
Parts of Suffolk were hit by localised flooding this morning after the first rainfall in several weeks – with some areas seeing up to 26mm by the early hours of this morning.
Suffolk police opened a designated log for weather related calls but reported no major incidents.
Felixstowe Carnival’s open-air Proms concert had to be abandoned half way through.
Ninety minutes into the event, thunder, lightning and torrential rain sent music lovers running for cover.
The heavy rain lasted more than an hour and flooded the Beachside Events Arena – and there was no way the show could continue.
Undercliff Road West was also flooded for a time, between Sea Road and Convalescent Hill, as drains failed to cope with the deluge.
There was little break from the stifling heat, however, as overnight temperatures remained high and made for another uncomfortable night’s sleep.
Forecasters are predicting a weekend’s respite from the heat – with temperatures getting no higher than 24C on Saturday, which should start cloudy with scattered showers, but become largely dry with sunny spells in the afternoon.
A breezy and mainly dry night will be followed by cloud and outbreaks of rain arriving from the west towards dawn on Sunday, when outbreaks of rain are likely for much of the day, but with some dry spells at times – especially in eastern areas.
The Met Office predicts temperatures will rise no further than 22C.
Monday looks breezy with sunny intervals and isolated showers, but feeling warmer again.
Tuesday will be mainly dry with warm sunny intervals and light winds.
The temperatures will be heating up again on a very warm and mainly dry Wednesday.
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