Terrifying footage has captured workers running for cover after a fork of lightning struck some nearby scaffolding on the UK's hottest day in recorded history.
Zak Harries was filming a raging storm near Penzance in Cornwall early on Tuesday morning when the bolt suddenly hit.
His coworkers at the scaffolding yard were seen ducking and shouting in shock as they scrambled to get away.
Mr Harries said there had been thunder and lightning for around 45 minutes before he took the jaw-dropping clip shortly before 7am, reports Cornwall Live.
He added: "I was trying to catch the storm and luckily got the strike that hit closest."
Similarly stormy scenes were spotted across the county earlier this week, despite the nation reaching temperatures above 40C for the first time.
Meanwhile, the Met Office issued new yellow thunderstorm warnings today covering huge parts of south west and south east England, along with parts of Wales.
The 12-hour warning for Friday brings with it two inches of rain in just two hours, a far cry from the scorching weather of recent days.
Forecasters predict that while some areas will remain dry, it's likely that slow moving, heavy thunderstorms will develop from mid to late morning.
The storms will then likely peak in the afternoon, with the warning in place from 10am until 10pm.
Hail and frequent lightning could also strike, with areas including Portsmouth, Bath, Bristol, Torbay, Cardiff and Caerphilly affected.
The warning comes just days after the UK was hit by a sweltering heatwave, triggering wildfires which saw the worst day for firefighters since World War Two.
Grassland in various parts of the country turned into a tinderbox as the UK recorded 40.3C temperatures.
In Wennington, east London, as many as 18 families lost their homes and 90 people were evacuated as a devastating inferno ripped through the quiet village.
The London Fire Brigade were dealing with multiple fires at the same time in the blistering heat as a major incident was declared.
Sixteen firefighters were injured and two taken to hospital because of heat stress in the capital.
Friday's thunderstorms, however, won't necessarily signal an end to the warm weather.
Temperatures could creep into the low 30s again over the weekend after a cooler end to the week.
Dan Suri, chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: “Now that the extreme heat is behind us, the UK can look forward to more typical conditions.
"The introduction of moister air from the Atlantic is triggering the risk of thunderstorms and heavy showers for parts of the UK with a warning in force today for most of southern and eastern England.
“There’s a further risk of thunderstorms on Friday but by the weekend it’ll turn drier, brighter and increasingly warm in the south and east of England.
"Northern and western parts of the UK are set to experience relatively fresher conditions as it turns breezier and wetter here over the weekend.”
