Forecasters warn of a month’s rainfall expected over the next two days

Forecasters predict that between 30 and 50mm of rain could fall today and Friday – the average for the whole month of August.

A band of “heavy and thundery” rain is expected to hit North Devon tomorrow (Thursday).

The yellow weather alert runs throughout Thursday and all day Friday, as the weather front pushes up into the area from southern England and east Wales.

Mark Wilson, a meteorologist at the Met Office told The Independent: “Through the course of tonight and mainly through Thursday and into Friday, there is the risk of some heavy thundery rain and showers pushing north through much of the UK”.

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning and said there is a significant risk of disruption on the roads and localised flooding throughout Thursday.

The weather system is expected to clear away to the east during Saturday, with drier, fresher weather following everywhere, with some sunshine.

Forecasters say the conditions are the result of an area of low pressure which is developing to the northwest of Spain during the next 12 to 24 hours. We may also have hail and thunder, this is most likely early on Thursday and then again Friday afternoon.

The weather warnings will be updated as the Met Office know more, so please come back to OneMK for the latest weather news in Milton Keynes.

Head of roads Paul Watters said: “Flash flooding in the summer can be hit-and-miss but unsafe for anyone caught up in it”.

The AA said motorists should only drive through water if they know it is not too deep – generally no more than halfway up the wheels.

Also they should not try driving through fast-moving water, such as a ford – the vehicle could easily be swept away.

A spokesman said: “If you are driving and become stuck in flood water, it’s generally best to stay in the auto and telephone for help rather than try to get out – unless the water is shallow, stationary and you can see the ground beneath the water”.

Forecaster Helen Roberts warned rush hour commuters to expect misery tomorrow morning as the heaviest downpours set in.

“As we look towards the end of August and into September, areas of high pressure will start to build which will lead to more settled conditions”.

Temperatures are tipped to nudge a steamy 30C (86F) in parts of the south with highs of 25C (77F) likely across the region.