Summary

Watch: Why has it rained so much recently?

Live Reporting

Written by Alice Cunningham; edited by Andrew Woodger

  1. River bursts its banks and floods cricket pitch

    The photos show the River Flit which has burst its banks. Water can be seen flooded around the area and onto a nearby cricket pitch. A bench has been submerged in the water.Gail Sanderson

    Further upstream from our previous post, the River Flit has burst its banks between Westoning and Flitwick, near the A5120.

    Photos sent to us by Gail Sanderson from the nearby Flitwick Cricket Club show the flooded pitch.

  2. Rising water levels at river in Bedfordshire

    River threatening to overflow in Shefford. You can see the river approaching the banks, near some houses.Tony Fisher/BBC

    The River Flit is continuing to rise at Shefford in Bedfordshire

    The Environment Agency has measured the river as being nearly twice its normal height.

    As of 11:00 it measured 1.04m (3.4ft) - it's normal range is 0.16-0.72m (0.5-2.36ft).

    The river is continuing to rise and is already at what is considered a high level.

    Should the river go above 1.13m (3.7ft) there would be a risk of flooding to nearby properties, the agency suggests.

    The river joins the River Ivel, which in turn joins the Great Ouse near St Neots, flowing onwards to The Wash in Norfolk.

    Water from the river has risen, beginning to take up part of a path and bottom of a sign.Tony Fisher/BBC
    The river is rising, you can see some bricks below a path at the bank of the river, next to some houses.Tony Fisher/BBC

  3. Some vehicles stranded on M1 junction

    An orange and white bus struggling to get through part of a flooded road.Nicola Haseler/BBC

    In Hertfordshire, at junction nine of the M1 near Harpenden (Friars Wash Interchange) some vehicles appear to be stranded in flood water.

    While others seem to be struggling to get through.

    Cars and vans have become stranded in flood water at junction nine of the M1.Nicola Haseler/BBC
    A blue van stopped in flood water at junction nine of the M1.Nicola Haseler/BBC

  4. Roads immersed in flood water

    A van driving in flood water on Hardwater Road near WellingboroughPA Media

    In some parts of Northamptonshire some roads look more like shallow rivers, such as the aptly named Hardwater Road, south of Wellingborough, which passes between Grendon Lakes and the Summer Leys Nature Reserve.

    National Highways advises motorists not to drive through flood water due to the potential of hidden hazards.

    It also advises a range of safety measures to take when driving in wet conditions.

    A white van driving in flood water on Hardwater Road near WellingboroughPA Media

  5. Tractor to the rescue

    A man in Wellington boots, standing next to a red and black tractor.PA Media

    In Grendon, Northamptonshire a tractor was seen pulling a vehicle that had become stuck in flood water

  6. Rising number of school closures

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

  7. 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.

  8. 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

  9. '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.

  10. '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.

  11. 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."

  12. '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.

  13. 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

  14. 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.

  15. '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.

  16. 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

  17. 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.

  18. '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.

  19. 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.

  20. 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.