Southern Britain was last night battered by up to three inches of rain and 45mph gales as forecasters issued an amber weather warning that covered most of London.
Britons are this morning waking to a deluge of surface water following a night of torrential rain caused by a storm that was yesterday named Aurore by Météo-France because the biggest impact will be seen in mainland Europe.
It comes after a mini 'tornado' smashed through a housing estate yesterday, as heavy rain and gale-force winds battered the country. Footage revealed the damage the windstorm caused as residents in Widnes, Cheshire, tried to clean-up the debris.
And in Scotland there was snow fall in Braemar, a village near Aberdeen in the north-east of the country and which is the third-coldest low-lying settlement in the UK.
Amber and yellow national severe weather warnings are in place across southern England - where 2.3inches of rain is thought to have fallen in just two to three hours.
Emergency services received a high number of calls from people reporting flooding, with Essex Fire Service saying they had received more than 120 calls up till 2.30am regarding flood-related incidents.
Storm Aurore, which moved through the English Channel overnight Wednesday into this morning, will also bring some severe weather for France and the Channel Islands.
One unofficial reading from Wandsworth in southwest London suggested three inches of rain had fallen in one 24-hour period yesterday.
Forecasters predict there to be more persistent rain over the weekend, with the heaviest rain expected in western Scotland, where 40-60mm could fall in 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Police and Highways England were called to the M26 in Kent just after 11pm after a number of vehicles became stranded in deep flood water. Police cleared the drains and helped to tow those who had been stranded.
Southern Britain was last night battered by up to three inches of rain and 45mph gales as forecasters issued an amber weather warning that covered most of London
Britons are waking to a deluge of surface water following a night of torrential rain caused by a storm that was yesterday named Aurore by Météo-France because the biggest impact will be seen in mainland Europe
Britons are expected to wake up to a deluge of surface water following a night of torrential rain caused by a storm that was yesterday named Aurore by Météo-France because the biggest impact will be seen in mainland Europe
Amber and yellow national severe weather warnings are in place across southern England - where 2.3inches of rain is thought to have fallen in just two to three hours. Pictured, pedestrians shelter under umbrellas in Greenwich, south east London
A woman shelters under a coat as she runs during heavy rain in Greenwich South East London on Wednesday night
One unofficial reading from Wandsworth in southwest London suggested three inches of rain had fallen in one 24-hour period yesterday
A Met office spokesman said: 'The French meteorological service is part of a different storm naming group than the Met Office, which means that the next storm named by either Met Eireann, KNMI or the Met Office, and will be named when more significant impacts are expected in one of those countries.'
Coastal areas could see wind speeds of up to 45mph in some exposed locations, according to the Met Office.
'The worst weather associated with Aurore will be on its southern flank, over northern France. The northern edge of Aurore will catch southern England, dealing us a glancing blow,' said Met Office Chief Operational Meteorologist Dan Suri yesterday.
'What this means for us is some heavy rain this evening and overnight. The Channel Islands, however, being closer to France, will be more directly in the firing line and experience high winds this evening and overnight. Of course, high winds will also affect the English Channel so marine interests are encouraged to keep abreast of the shipping forecast.'
On the A331 in Surrey one driver flooded their car's engine on the A331. A van driver then aquaplaned and collided with the car, with a dramatic photograph of the scene showing how the force of the crash tipped it onto one side.
A spokesman for Surrey police said: 'Sorry to keep repeating ourselves but drive to the conditions, slow down & increase your stopping distance.'
A car and a motorcycle crashed on the M23 southbound near Pease Pottage Wednesday night at 9.10pm. The male rider was taken to hospital with serious injuries
In a video posted on Twitter uprooted
