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Kochi: World Cup matches under ‘cloudburst’

One month’s rain in one day to flood England, Scotland.

Kochi: The ICC Cricket World Cup now underway in England and Wales has already seen rains wash a away a couple of matches. And there are more bad news to follow.

Forecasters have issued a grim warning that England and Scotland will be hit by heavy rains early this week. The Met Office forecast thunderstorms daily until Tuesday, warning of more floods from almost a month's rain in a day - 50mm in England and 100m in Scotland. And it’s not just rains: there would be wind, lightning and hail, too. Seven matches are scheduled for this week, which include an England vs Australia match on Tuesday.

The heavy rains for the 60 hours in the early part of the week will be followed by a hotter weather: it’s is expected that June temperature across UK will break its 35C record as a 2,000-mile wide African air plume brings Europe a record heatwave.

“Warm air from north Africa will bring an extensive heatwave to large parts of western and central Europe, with highs into the 40s in Germany and France,” the Met office said. “The UK will see highs build through the week after 28C on Monday and Tuesday. By Friday and Saturday sees the chance of 34C, and possibly warmer if there is more sunshine and less cloud in the West, which is forecast to be the hottest area.”

Hot air is shown on a dramatic weather map covering Britain and stretching from Spain to Norway. Germany, due 41C (106F), is set to break its 40.3C temperature record.

The UK government has put hospitals on alert for an increase in admissions and ordered health and social workers to prepare to make daily contact with the ill, vulnerable and elderly.

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