UK weather live: Tornado alert issued as heavy rain and thunderstorms strike amid Met Office warnings

As of 11.20pm, the Environment Agency had 51 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected, and 120 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.

Areas of Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire are listed as being the most vulnerable.

The Met Office said: “Slow moving showers and thunderstorms will develop through the afternoon, merging into a large band of heavy rain through the evening, before clearing slowly south overnight.

“Some places, especially across central and eastern parts of the warning area, are likely to receive 30-40mm in three hours or less, and perhaps 50-60mm or more in around six hours.

“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.”

Looking past the wet weather tonight and on Friday, the Met Office is forecasting a chilly Saturday before more wet weather on Sunday.

Met Office deputy chief neteorologist David Oliver said: “The rain will clear south during Friday allowing Arctic air to cross the country. This gives a much colder but quieter interlude in the south on Saturday, although a few showers will spread across northern areas.

“An area of low pressure then moves in from the southwest later in the weekend and crosses the UK during Sunday and Monday.

“Although there is still some uncertainty about the exact behaviour of this system and therefore where may see any impacts, it will bring the potential for some wet and windy weather late on Sunday and into the start of next week. Stay up to date with the latest forecast for your area.”

While the rain comes down in many areas of the country, we look back here at a picture taken today on the River Cam in Cambridge where passengers on a boat protect themselves from the downpours.

Cambridge is under an amber alert tonight, which means flooding is likely.

As of 8.46pm, the Environment Agency had 40 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected, and 114 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”.

With yellow and amber warnings for much of England warning of disruption on the roads, National Highways has urged caution from drivers.

National network manager Stephen Basterfield said: “With heavy rain expected to cause further flooding and disruption today and overnight its important people adjust their driving behaviour and take extra care.

“Road users should plan their journey and check the latest updates on diversion routes before they travel as these could be impacted with more rainfall.

“We have a section of our website dedicated to travelling when it is raining, as part of our guide to travelling in severe weather.”

As the Met Office forecasts, and this graphic shows, heavy rain will fall over much of the UK tonight.

A council in Gloucestershire is handing out sandbags to residents to help protect their homes against flooding.

Tewkesbury Borough Council posted on social media: “During extreme weather events, we provide sandbags for residents to protect their homes from flooding.

“Please be considerate to others who may need to protect their homes. Emergency sandbags are available to protect habitable areas of your home, rather than gardens or garages.

“Four sandbags are sufficient for most doorways, and during emergencies, officers will provision appropriately to ensure as many homes are protected as possible.”