Hundreds of flights have been canceled at Heathrow and Gatwick airports due to intense heatwave conditions causing severe thunderstorms in the southern regions of the UK.

Data tracking flights reveals that over 300 flights have been delayed today at both major air travel hubs.

According to Eurocontrol, only Heathrow and Gatwick airports are experiencing significant delays linked to the ongoing thunderstorms. Some flights are facing delays of up to six hours, affecting airlines such as EasyJet and British Airways.

The UK’s air traffic control service anticipates continued delays throughout the day, with Gatwick implementing temporary air traffic control restrictions due to the thunderstorms.

Gatwick airport stated that temporary air traffic restrictions were enforced following thunderstorms last night, leading to flight delays and cancellations today.

EasyJet acknowledged the disruptions caused by the weather conditions and assured passengers of their efforts to minimize the impact. The airline is proactively canceling some flights to and from Gatwick while assisting affected passengers with rebooking options, refunds, and necessary accommodations.

Lightning strikes overnight sparked fires in several properties in southern England. Despite the easing heatwave, the Met Office warns of possible thunderstorms over the weekend, with hail in some areas.

The Met Office noted the potential for vigorous thunderstorms on Saturday, particularly in the southeast, with lightning and hail. The upcoming week is expected to bring a mix of weather patterns across the UK, including varying cloud cover, sunny intervals, and occasional rainfall from the west.