UK weather: Flooding chaos across Britain after Met Office issued new yellow warnings for rain across the South East

• As much as 40mm of rain is believed to have fallen this weekend in some areas 
• Fears that flooding could cause widespread disruption

Britain has been hit by flooding chaos after torrential downpours of rain battered large parts of the country this weekend.

New yellow weather warnings for rain have been issued for the south east of England by the Met Office, as the heavy showers from yesterday continue on into this afternoon.

This weekend’s heavy rain sparked fears of flooding across the country, as torrential showers this week saw around one month’s rain fall within less than 24 hours.

Some parts of the country are believed to have been hit by as much as 40mm of rain this weekend, the Met Office says.

Villages such as Croscombe, Somerset, have seen the local rivers burst their banks this morning, flooding homes and businesses and causing widespread disruption.

Flood water is also expected to cause severe delays to national bus and train services, whilst motorists are expected to face longer journey times because of road closures.

Houses and businesses in Croscombe, Somerset, have been affected by flood water this morning

Some parts of the country are believed to have been hit by as much as 40mm of rain this weekend

A flooded road between Whittlesey and Thorney, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire this morning

Motorists make a splash as they drive through a large puddle following heavy rain in Greenwich, South East London

According to the Met Office, heavy showers will continue on from yesterday and are expected to last until midday today in the south-east of England

There are fears that flooding could cause widespread disruption, as torrential showers this week saw around one month’s rain within less than 24 hours (Pictured: Flooding in Walton, Warwickshire, on Tuesday)

This band of heavy rain is expected to clear to the east by the afternoon, having originally been forecast to stay until 6pm this evening.

Elsewhere the country should see some bright spells of weather, with temperatures reaching a unseasonably mild 15C in some areas due to winds coming down from the south.

A scattering of showers is also expected to hit western areas of Britain later this evening.

Across England, there are 41 flood warnings in place and 197 flood alerts – the former meaning flooding is ‘likely’, the latter ‘possible’ – as already-waterlogged land is at greater risk of becoming swamped with floodwaters.

The heavy band of rain are expected to clear to the east by the afternoon, having originally been forecast to stay until 6pm this evening

Across England, there are 41 flood warnings in place and 197 flood alerts – the former meaning flooding is ‘likely’, the latter ‘possible’

Forecaster Craig Snell said: ‘The ground is already a little bit more saturated across England and Wales compared to Scotland and Northern Ireland, so they’ll be a little more sensitive to the rainfall.

‘Some parts could see disruption, transport may be a little bit delayed and if you’re driving on the roads your journey may take a little bit longer due to spray and road closures.’

The current spell of wet weather is in sharp contrast to the infamous drought last year, when Britain underwent its driest February in 30 years – with just 15.3mm of rain falling on average.

The Met Office added: ‘Bus and train services are probably going to be affected with journey times taking longer. Spray and flooding on roads will probably make journey times longer

‘Flooding of a few homes and businesses is likely, [with] some interruption to power supplies and other services.’

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