July 1968 United Kingdom thunderstorms
Weather map at 18:00 on 1 July 1968 | |
| Type | Dust fall thunderstorms |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 July 1968 |
| Duration | 28 hours |
| Dissipated | 2 July 1968 |
| Largest hail | 75 millimetres (3.0 in) Cardiff |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 450 millimetres (18 in) Yeadon, West Yorkshire |
| Maximum rainfall | 184 millimetres (7.2 in) Isle of Man |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Damage | Widespread |
| Areas affected | South West England, Welsh Marches, Northern England |
The July 1968 United Kingdom thunderstorms were the most severe dust fall thunderstorms in the British Isles for over 200 years. A layer of mineral dust blowing north from the Sahara met cold, wet air over the British Isles, resulting in thick, dense clouds and severe thunderstorms across most of England and Wales. These clouds completely blotted out the light in some areas and the rain and hail resulted in property damage and flooding, and at least four people were killed. During the storm, Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire saw 35.7 millimetres (1.41 in) of rain in under 10 minutes – a UK record until 2003.