Summary

Watch: Why has it rained so much recently?

Live Reporting

Written by Alice Cunningham; edited by Andrew Woodger

  1. Rising number of school closures

    Thirteen schools in Central Bedfordshire have now been closed, and five schools in the Bedford Borough area.

  2. Lightning rips through night sky

    Lightning over houses in Great Oakley, Corby, Northamptonshire.Jenna Smith/PA Media

    Huge forks of lightning ripped through the sky in parts of Northamptonshire on Sunday, including this one seen from Great Oakley in Corby.

  3. Wet commute in Luton

    Robin Wright sent these photos of New Bedford Road in Luton, at about 08:00 this morning.

    A car makes its way through a flooded street. The water is almost at the top of the tyres. A queue of cars with headlights on can be seen waiting behind it, not entering the big puddleRobin Wright
    A bench and a pavillion can be seen in flood waterRobin Wright

  4. 'Excessive damage' partially closes school

    Wollaston School near Wellingborough, Northamptonshire has closed to five year groups.

    Years 7 to 10 and year 12 have been told not to attend due to "flooding and excessive damage", the school announced.

    Year 11 and 13 should have attended as normal, the school said.

  5. 'A month's worth of rain in two hours'

    Gillian Brown
    Senior weather presenter, BBC East

    An amber weather warning for has been issued by the Met Office for parts of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire and remains in place until 21:00.

    A lower level yellow warning covering the East of England as a whole is in force until midnight.

    Woburn, in Bedfordshire, has had 120.4mm of rain, with a month's worth of that - 60mm - falling in less than two hours.

  6. Luton Airport 'fully operational'

    A general view of the exterior and entrance of London Luton Airport. It shows steps leading up to the entrance of the airport. A large sign on the building reads "London Luton Airport"LLA

    Luton Airport has said, despite the adverse weather conditions, it was "open and fully operational".

    "However, passengers travelling to the airport should allow extra time for their journeys," a spokesperson on its website said.

    "For the latest status of your flight, please contact your airline."

  7. 'Weak tornado' swept across Luton

    Gillian Brown
    Senior BBC Weather Presenter

    Graphic showing how a tornado forms

    Tornadoes are rare events in the UK, but are part of our climate. On average the UK has close to 30 per year.

    This weak tornado swept across Luton yesterday. It was associated with the thunderstorms moving across southern Britain.

    They usually form during thunderstorms when warm air rises through colder air.

    With the right wind conditions the air starts to spin, and if the swirling air touches the ground - it forms a tornado.

  8. Flooded garages and no electricity in Clophill

    Flood water has submerged a road. Two people can be seen on the steps of a house, overlooking the road, which now resembles a riverToby Friedner

    This is how it's looking in Clophill, Bedfordshire, where about 20 homes in Goodwood Close are without electricity.

    Water has flooded the road and garages in the village, on the A6 between Bedford and Luton.

    A man wearing a black T-shirt hoists up his black shorts as he walks through flood water. The water can be seen gushing up to above his knee levelToby Friedner

  9. Carabao Cup match off

    The weather is affecting the rest of England as well.

    Having beaten Ipswich Town in the last round, AFC Wimbledon will have to wait to see if they can claim another Premier League club's scalp in the Carabao Cup.

    Their match against Newcastle United, due to be played on Tuesday evening, has been postponed due to flooding at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in south-west London.

    For more details of what is happening outside the East of England region, follow the BBC's national live updates page.

  10. 'A quieter Monday commute' in Bedfordshire town

    Gareth Lloyd
    BBC News, Bedfordshire

    The scene at Duck Bridge in Dunstable the morning after the road under the bridge was flooded. Cars can be seen moving under the bridge and the road is clear of flood water. Some blockades remain in the middle of the road.Gareth Lloyd

    Although the rain continues, it has been a quieter Monday morning commute around Dunstable compared to a normal start to the week with people either staying at home or leaving earlier for work.

    A number of schools have closed for the day or started late to help with any repairs needed due to water damage.

    The "infamous" Duck Bridge has reopened this morning (pictured) with barriers around an area where the road split open as water burst through the surface yesterday.

  11. The scene at Dunstable today

    Nicola Haseler
    BBC Three Counties

    A photo shows flood water that has submerged a road in Dunstable. The road's verges have also been submerged. The water stretches about hundred metres.Nicola Haseler

    In Dunstable today, several roads have been blocked off due to the flood water.

    Signage has been placed on some roads to prevent vehicles trying to enter.

    A photo shows a flooded road in Dunstable that has been cordoned off with signs warning of floods. The flood water stretches about 100 metres.Nicola Haseler

  12. Video captures wind funnel

    A video has captured the moment a funnel of strong wind tore through Luton on Sunday.

    Debris can be seen flying through the air as the funnel moves in the area.

  13. 'Ensure the safety of your children'

    Another school in the Bedford area has announced it has been forced to close.

    Sheerhatch Primary School, near Cardington, said its ceiling had flooded.

    "Unfortunately, we need to close Sheerhatch Willington this morning due to flooding through the ceiling, this is to ensure the safety of your children, as the emergency lighting is on only," a spokesperson for the school said on social media.

    They added parents would be updated.

  14. A single bolt of lightning

    A photo taken from the Northamptonshire countryside shows a single bolt of lightning hitting the ground several miles away. The sky is dark grey with the bolt lighting up the surrounding area. Green, rolling fields can be seen all around with the occasional building.Tim and the dogs/Weather Watchers

    Prior to the heavy rain and flooding, Northamptonshire was hit with storms on Saturday.

    BBC Weather Watchers contributor "tim and the dogs" sent us this image of a single lightning bolt hitting the county at Great Creaton, north of Northampton.

  15. Lone car submerged in floodwater

    A photo taken from a bridge above the A421 Bedford bypass at the Marston Interchange. The road under the bridge has been completely submerged with flood water and a single, silver car can be seen underwater with just its rear on show above the water.David Sharpe

    The A421 Bedford bypass at the Marston Moretaine Interchange remains closed after part of the road was submerged.

    Photos taken by David Sharpe at about 08:20 showed a single car stranded in the water with just its boot visible the water.

    National Highways said the road was still closed in both directions and a diversion was in place.

    As of mid-Monday morning, the agency said there was no estimated time for the reopening of the road.

  16. 'Expect flooding'

    Flood alerts and warnings have been issued across parts of the region by the government.

    Flood warnings, that urge residents to expect flooding, have been issued for the River Ivel at Langford in Bedfordshire and for the Grendon Brook catchment area near Northampton.

    Several flood alerts that warn flooding is possible have also been issued in numerous areas including around the minor tributaries of the River Nene in Northamptonshire and the River Ver in Hertfordshire.

    The Ver Valley Society described this as "rare" for the River Ver in a post on social media.

    A full list of alerts and warnings can be found here.

  17. School opens despite floods

    A photo taken from outside Ardley Hill Academy school in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. It shows the exterior of a red brick school building that has been surrounded by water. Rain drops can be seen hitting the water.Chiltern Learning Trust

    Ardley Hill Academy in Dunstable, Bedfordshire said it would be able to open, despite the town being majorly hit by rain on Sunday.

    The Children Learning Trust, which runs the Lowther Road school, posted pictures from the school grounds on Sunday night and asked: "So where has our summer gone?"

    On Monday, the school said it would be implementing a delayed opening from 09:30.

    A photo shows the Ardley Hill Academy school playground under water. Four colourful stepping stones in the playground are partially submerged under water as the rain pours. A bench can be seen in the background and a fence.Chiltern Learning Trust

  18. More schools close

    Three additional schools in Central Bedfordshire have closed according to the council's website.

    These include:

    • Lancot School
    • Parkfields School
    • Slip End Village School

    According to the council website, 10 schools have shut for the day.

    Bedford Borough Council's website shows just one school closure in the north of the county - Broadmead Lower in Stewartby.

    "Closed due to adverse weather conditions - flooding," it says.

    "Roads impassable and staff unable to get into work. We will be open tomorrow."

    On the other side of the M1 from Dunstable, the Luton Council website says the local authority has not been notified of any closures.

  19. Floods surround Asda

    A picture taken from Rushden High Street outside the Asda supermarket. The road can be seen flooded with water outside the supermarket. Cars can be seen in the distance attempting to drive through the water.Bill

    The High Street in Rushden, Northamptonshire was pictured on Sunday under water.

  20. Flood water submerges street

    Video shows flooded streets in Dunstable after heavy rain

    A video shot in Dunstable in Bedfordshire on Sunday shows high flood water that has submerged a street.

    Several cars can be seen attempting to drive through the water as they leave the Saracen's Head on High Street South.