After the heatwave came the cloudburst … après moi le déluge

FOR OVER A WEEK at the end of June and the beginning of July (2025), temperatures in London hovered around 30 degrees Celsius. Then, it became a bit cooler, and the sky clouded over. Despite the slight decrease in temperature, the air in London remained unpleasantly humid.

Then, on Sunday the 6th of July, the heavens opened. Rain came streaming down. The downpour was as heavy as monsoon rains I have seen in India.

After less than 10 minutes, the rain ceased, there were several rolls of thunder, and the sky became blue once more.

The photograph shows the disadvantages of a flat roof. With poor drainage, it becomes a swimming pool.