The United Kingdom is preparing for “horrendous” conditions due to severe rain, and drivers are cautioned to remain off the roads.
Flooding has created disruptions between Tonbridge and Hastings on several rail lines.
After 20 vehicles became stranded on the A27, the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service warned motorists to “proceed only if essential.”
27 flood warnings and 104 flood alerts were issued by the Environment Agency.
A band of precipitation, which arrived in Cornwall on Wednesday, will proceed across England before moving across the east coast of Scotland on Friday.
The Met Office has warned that there is a minor danger of property flooding, towns being briefly cut off by flooded roads, and transportation disruptions.
The Met Office has issued weather warnings, including a yellow warning for Thursday’s rain.
The yellow warning is in effect for the entirety of Thursday and extends from Birmingham, Lincoln, and Hull through north Wales, Liverpool, and Manchester, and from the east coast to the Scottish border.
Another yellow warning will be in effect for the east coast of Scotland from 15:00 on Thursday until 18:00 on Friday.
Craig Snell of the Met Office stated that many locations in the South East had already received “more than their monthly allotment” of precipitation.
“The warning zones are where we are most concerned about the possibility of floods, but that doesn’t mean that communities outside of them won’t see very terrible conditions.”
He predicted that Scotland would have “two days of steady rain” that could result in snowfall in the Scottish Highlands, although this is not uncommon for November.
The Met Office predicts that 30-40mm (1.1-1.5in) of rain might fall over 24 hours in certain areas of Wales.
The M23 in Sussex was closed due to disruptions caused by heavy rain. After several hours, the road between Junction 10 for Crawley and Junction 11 for Pease Pottage was reopened, however, some lanes remain closed.
The West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service reported responding to seventy incidents overnight and cautioned motorists against driving through floodwater.
Thursday morning, flooding also disrupted Southern services between Lewes and Brighton and led to the cancellation of trains on the Isle of Wight.
Winchester, Hampshire police issued a warning about a huge tree that had fallen and obstructed a road in Swanmore.
After a blown fuse and a melted piece of signaling equipment were replaced, train service between Tonbridge and Hastings resumed.
