GREY skies are due to part today after thundery downpours lashed the county yesterday morning.

The heavens opened on Thursday night and the deluge was at its peak from 11pm to 2am, continuing through a gloomy Friday morning.

Yesterday afternoon, RAF Benson in South Oxfordshire recorded 13.2mm of rain over the past 24 hours, rising to 18.4mm in South Newington – the equivalent of a week and a week-and-a-half’s rain respectively.

Faced with a drenched crowd at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention on Thursday, headline act Emmylou Harris rallied well.

The American singer-songwriter took the English weather in her stride, singing three separate numbers about rain before telling crowds: “Thank you for staying around. It wouldn’t have been much fun without you.”

In Oxford, St Clement’s Street bar and restaurant Joseph Perks & Co, told customers yesterday morning that the kitchen would be closed due to the rain.

Manager Tom Brady said yesterday: “We walked in this morning and the kitchen was flooded with a couple of centimetres of water.

“We took a look and immediately Tweeted that we would not be opening. We are electric, not gas, so it would have been dangerous.”

Engineers were drafted in so the kitchen could reopen yesterday evening.

But after a dismal end to the week, skies are now set to clear and forecasters say Oxfordshire may even be treated to some sun.

Met Office spokeswoman Emma Sharples said: “It’s common to get summer thunderstorms that develop over time.

“It might be a bit misty and murky in places in the morning and surface water might create some fog.

“But it looks fine and dry over the weekend. Rainfall is moving slowly eastwards and there may be some sun.”

The news is likely to be warmly welcomed by visitors to the Thai food and culture festival planned for Botley Park tomorrow.

Organiser Mark Vongsakul said: “Over the past week I have been checking the radio and forecasts every day.

“It was gushing it down on Friday but apparently it will be quite sunny on Sunday, thank God. Park keepers said the grass will soak up all the rain.”

Highs of 18C and 19C are expected today and tomorrow, which are set to be mostly cloudy but dry.