UK cities blasted by 'powerful hailstorms' as shopping centre evacuated

Two cities in the UK were hit by powerful hailstorms with a shopping centre evacuated due to the unsettled weather conditions. The Met Office had issued a yellow thunderstorm warning covering a large part of north-eastern Scotland and another the eastern part of Northern Ireland.

The warning which was in place till 10pm on Thursday was issued as parts of the country continue to battle with the fourth heatwave of the summer. A shopping centre in Dundee was evacuated and a road in Aberdeenshire was closed by a mudslide due to the weather conditions, it has been reported.

Customers were evacuated from the Overgate Centre around 4.15pm after water began cascading down the ramps at the building's entrance.

For about 20 minutes, the city was pelted with unusually large hailstones-some as big as £1 coins-while parts of the city centre experienced flash flooding, leaving several roads submerged, reports BBC.

Sections of Aberdeenshire were battered by intense hailstorms, prompting the closure of part of the A97 due to a mudslide.

Videos shared on social media captured scenes reminiscent of winter, with hail blanketing the ground so heavily it appeared as though snow had fallen.

Police Scotland said the A97 Dinnet to Glenbuchat road was closed in both directions between Logie Coldstone and the junction with the B9119, Tarland Road, following a mudslide. Drivers have been advised to avoid the area.

It come as the Met Office warned that some areas could see 20 to 30mm of rain falling in less than an hour, with totals reaching up to 70mm within two hours. The most severe storms may also be accompanied by lightning and hail, the National Weather Agency explained.

Paul Gundersen, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "Some areas will continue to experience their fourth heatwave of the summer so far, with Thursday remaining warm or very warm for many, though cooler near coasts.

"Temperatures could still reach 30C in eastern England, though many areas will be a few degrees cooler than earlier in the week."