Commuters across the UK are likely to face travel disruption as many train lines and motorways have been left submerged in water.
It has been reported that the train line between Banbury and Bicester is closed due to major flooding. Similarly, the M5 motorway is closed with cars left trapped in the water overnight.
It comes as the Met Office has issueda severe amber warning for heavy rain cascading over areas of the Midlands and south of the country potentially bringing flooding misery for millions.
The alert came into force at 6pm on Thursday and will last for 12 hours. Yellow rain warnings had already been in place for large parts of England and Wales and western parts of Northern Ireland.
Areas affected by the amber warning – including Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and the West Midlands – could see 30-40mm of rainfall within three hours, according to the forecaster.
The Met Office uses a traffic light system of warnings, with yellow, amber and red, with the latter being the most extreme. This is the first time an amber warning has been issued for flooding and heavy rain this autumn.
Parts of Hitchin have been struck by flooding, with North Herts Police confirming the closure of Cambridge Road in the town centre. Parts of Solihull have also been hit, with West Midlands Railway warning of disruption and cancellations.
As of 7pm, the Environment Agency had 39 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected, and 110 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.
Areas of Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire are listed as being the most vulnerable.
The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Toro) is also forecasting that much of the South East could see lightning, winds up to 50mph and even “isolated brief tornadoes”. This includes much of East Anglia, the south-east Midlands and central southern England.
The Met Office said: “This rain will fall onto already saturated ground and affect communities recovering from recent flooding. Travel disruption and further flooding is likely, with rivers continuing to rise after the rain clears.”
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If you’ve been affected by the adverse weather conditions and want to share your story and photos, please email astha.saxena@reachplc.com