UK and London floods: Dramatic images show devastating floods with towns submerged after days of rain

Floodwaters have risen across large swathes of southern England after days of near-record rainfalls have left millions with a soggy end to the summer. In some parts, so much water has fallen that town centres have flooded and schools have shut, with more wet weather on the way.

London commuters could struggle this morning as the Metropolitan Line, Piccadilly Line, and District Line have all been impacted by flooding. At least three schools have been forced to shut in Gloucestershire after water poured into buildings on Friday. Chosen Hill School in Churchdown, The Milestone School in Gloucester and Tewkesbury CofE Primary will be closed while damage is assessed.

The Environment Agency has warned of “significant” flooding on Monday across parts of England. Flood duty manager Sarah Cook said “persistent heavy rain and thunderstorms” could lead to some property flooding and travel disruption.

She said: “Persistent heavy rain and thunderstorms could lead to significant surface water flooding on Monday across parts of England.

“The impacts could include localised flooding in urban areas and fast-responding catchments, including some property flooding as well as travel disruption. The risk from river flooding remains low.

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READ MORE: UK weather: Streets left under water as flooding causes damage to buildings and cars

“Environment Agency teams are out on the ground and ready to support local authorities in responding to surface water flooding.

“We urge people to plan their journeys carefully, follow the advice of local emergency services on the roads and not to drive through flood water – it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.

“People should check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation as well as following @EnvAgency on X, formerly Twitter, for the latest flood updates.”

Parts of the UK have seen days of seemingly never-ending rain, with images revealing widespread damage to vehicles and danger to properties amid rapid flooding. In parts of Stoke-on-Trent, this led to mudslides enveloping cars, followed by a series of explosive lightning strikes.

By Sunday evening, large parts of towns in the south east were underwater, with residents in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, and Hitchin, Hertfordshire, forced out of their homes by the rising water. Bedfordshire Police warned on Sunday that the town's High Street was closed because of "substantial flooding".

Pictures show cars submerged and businesses washed out by the incessant flooding, with some facing "heartbreaking" damage. Residents have been advised to avoid the area and motorists told to find alternative routes.

In Dunstable, motorists saw roads closed by rising floodwaters, leaving some stranded after attempting to cross the deep pool spreading across a major route, Luton Road, through the town. Images show a delivery van and what appears to be a family vehicle stuck in the middle of the deep pool.

Dunstable Councillor Louise O’Riordan said: “My heart is breaking for all of those residents and businesses affected by the unusually heavy rain today. I really don’t know what I can do to help but please ask if you think I can."

Many of the highly populated areas surrounding London, and including the capital itself, have seen extreme weather and are likely to still see more - with many Lutoners on Sunday spotting a tornado ripping through the grey skies overhead.

No service is currently running between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge on the Metropolitan line, with no Piccadilly line service running between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge. There is a good service on the rest of the line however and tickets will be accepted on local buses.

In addition, no service is currently able to run on the District line between Turnham Green and Richmond due to the ongoing floods.

A further two rain warnings, one yellow and one amber, come into effect today. The yellow warning, lasting all day, will stretch to cover areas further east and further north.

Meanwhile the amber warning, up between 5am and 9pm, focuses on the areas of Birmingham, Peterborough, Stoke-on-Trent and Hull.

Homes and businesses across the country are bracing for more lashings of rain today, with six inches of water forecast to fall in 24 hours for some already water-logged regions.

This is also likely to cause travel chaos in rainy parts, with the A5 Stretton, Staffordshire, and in Bedfordshire, closed, as well as expected train cancellations with Great Northern, Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink all having reported service issues so far.

13 flood warnings currently in place

The Environment Agency has confirmed that 13 flood warnings are currently in place, with flooding expected to hit in the near future.

The current flood warning areas are as follows:

Chaffinch Brook and St James Stream at Elmers End

Grendon Brook catchment including Yardley Hastings, Denton, Bozeman, Easton Maudit and Grendon,

Kidbrooke Stream at Forest Row

Low lying areas close to Clipstone Brook at Leighton Buzzard

River Anker at Mancetter, Witherley and Atherstone

River Ivel at Langford

River Lee at Luton

River Ouzel at Leighton Buzzard, Stoke Hammond and Great Brickhill

River Wandle at Wimbledon

Saredon Brook at Wedges Mills, Cannock

The Eastwood Brook and Prittlewell Brook in the Southend area

Wider area at risk from Clipstone Brook at Leighton Buzzard

Reading Brook East at South Ruislip

In addition, a further 69 flood alerts are also in effect, which mean that flooding is possible.