The dramatic explosions that tore through roads in Bath during Monday evening’s storm were caused by burst water pipes rather than lightning strikes, Bath and North East Somerset Council confirmed.
On June 22, intense rainfall of 30mm within just one hour overwhelmed the city’s drainage system, leading to the rupture of underground water pipes beneath Twerton High Street and Ralph Allen Drive in Widcombe. These bursts caused large sections of tarmac to blow apart, creating sizable craters in the road surface.
While several witnesses on social media initially believed lightning struck the road, the council clarified that the damage was the result of water pressure forcing its way up through compromised infrastructure. Ralph Allen Drive has been closed for repair, with 40 meters of road slated for resurfacing. Meanwhile, Twerton High Street remains open but is affected by the damage.
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A council spokesperson stated, “The intense rainfall overwhelmed the drainage system, causing burst pipes and damage to the road. Wessex Water will be carrying out repairs once weather conditions allow.”
Social media posts included conflicting accounts, with some describing seeing lightning hitting the ground, while others observed water gushing from manholes and the road swelling into mounds several feet high.
This sudden flash flood event was unusual for Bath, which normally receives about 55mm of rain over the entire month of June. The severe downpour and resulting infrastructure failure highlight the challenges posed by extreme weather events.
Additionally, the storm caused a house fire in Bristol due to a lightning strike, underscoring the storm’s intensity across the region.