Skies across Scotland were lit up by spectacular lightning as thunder storms swept across the country. 

The hot weather which had lasted almost a week came to an end on Sunday night with rain and storms taking over.

The two clashing weather systems led to lively skies as banks of dark cloud were lit up into the evening with flashes and forks of lightning.

Forecasters are predicting the thunder and lightning will continue as a yellow weather warning comes into force across the UK.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued 16 flood alerts across Scotland, including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, the Central belt, tayside and the Borders. 

The Met Office has implemented the warning for Scotland and Northern Ireland until 11.59pm on Monday and 11.59pm for all of England and Wales on Tuesday after a change in air pressure led to dramatic showers.

Power cuts and delays and cancellations in trains and buses are predicted, while spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions for motorists.

The south west and south east of England also face a third day of yellow warnings on Wednesday until 11.59pm, as the rain eases off elsewhere.

Greg Dewhurst, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said the week would start off quite humid before cooling down later on.

He said: “We’ll start off initially quite humid, particularly across the south and the east of the UK, with thundery showers and sunny spells, but it will gradually become cooler and fresher as the week goes on.

“First half of the week, we’re looking at some heavy downpours and thunderstorms developing.

“You can sort of see that sort of transition coming in from the north, it’s day by day.

“It’s still hot tomorrow, we’re looking at highs around 31C, possibly 32C, and then it starts to come down.

“As we head towards Tuesday, temperatures are around 26C or 27C. Wednesday Thursday will be the mid 20s.

“So probably tomorrow is the last day where we’ll see temperatures above 30C for the rest of the week.”

Drivers have been urged to drive carefully amid predictions of flash flooding.

WEATHER Heat(PA Graphics)

Simon Williams, RAC’s road safety expert, said: “When roads or conditions have been so dry, flash floods are going to appear and cause a danger to drivers.

There’s a risk of aquaplaning as the water won’t drain away quite as quickly. The risk of slipping and sliding is also greater.

“Make sure you’ve got good tread on your tyres and they’re properly inflated, because the tread is the only thing that keeps you in contact with the road. Also, leave plenty of space between your car and the car in front.”

A spokesman for the AA also warned about slippery surfaces on the roads as a result of rubber build-up from tyres.

Meanwhile two people are missing after getting into difficulty in rivers in England during the hot weekend weather.

Temperatures soared on Saturday and Sunday as the spate of sunny and hot weather continued across the UK.

Summer weather Lightning and thunder is also predicted during the week (Peter Byrne/PA)

A search was under way for a man in the River Thames after he was reported getting into difficulty in the water.

The Metropolitan Police said a “multi-agency response” was in operation after they received reports of the man in the water at Hampton Court at 4.12pm.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: “Officers from the Met and Surrey Police, the National Police Air Service, as well as the London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and RNLI, began searching the river.

“However, despite the best efforts of everyone involved the man has not been found.

“Efforts to inform all of his next of kin are ongoing while work to recover the man continues.”