In pictures: Travel chaos and flash floods hit London and South East

James Hockaday
Updated ·3 min read
Flooding in London on 2 and 3 November, 2022
Drivers were pictured ploughing through floods as they were pelted with torrential rain. (PA/Getty Images)

Drivers battled their way through waterlogged roads on Thursday morning after torrential rainfall hit much of London and the South East.

A number of roads, train routes and underground services have been partly closed due to the flash floods, as parts of the capital saw more than half a month's worth of rainfall in one night.

The London Fire Brigade said it was called to 45 flooding related incidents overnight, including rescuing drivers who were stuck in their cars, and evacuating people whose homes had flooded.

It urged drivers not to drive through floodwater and asked them to read its advice on what to do if their street starts flooding.

Spray and flooding on roads could lengthen journey times, said the Met Office, which has issued a yellow weather warning for rain, covering the South of England from Portsmouth to Canterbury and parts of London.

The warning remains in place until 3pm on Thursday, but a separate yellow warning for thunderstorms covering much of the South of England runs until 6am Friday.

Read more: Finchley Road flooded with ‘ankle deep’ water amid torrential rain in London

Drivers struggle through a flooded road in Barnham, West Sussex, following heavy rainfall overnight. Picture date: Thursday November 3, 2022. (Photo by Joe Sene/PA Images via Getty Images)
Drivers struggled through a flooded road in Barnham, West Sussex, on Thursday morning. (Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02: Vehicles negotiate a flooded section of the A1 road on November 02, 2022 in London, England. Torrential rain and flash flooding hit the region late on Wednesday evening, causing traffic jams as cars became stuck in the standing water. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
A taxi driver battles through a watterlogged A1 in London on Wednesday evening. (Getty Images)
Park Place Villas near Maida Vale in London part of which is flooded due to heavy overnight rain. Picture date: Thursday November 3, 2022.
More than half a month's worth of rain fell over parts of the capital in one night. (Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02: Vehicles negotiate a flooded section of the A1 road on November 02, 2022 in London, England. Torrential rain and flash flooding hit the region late on Wednesday evening, causing traffic jams as cars became stuck in the standing water. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Drivers have been warned that spray and flooding could increase their journey times. (Getty Images)

Read more: 'Act now' - red flood warning for 'high and rising' river amid torrential rain

The Met Office said the top rainfall totals recorded in the 12 hours from 9pm on Wednesday until 8am on Thursday were at Kew Gardens in west London, where 42.2mm fell, and Odiham in Hampshire, where 40.2mm fell.

The weather service said the average rainfall for the entire month of November in Greater London is 69.3mm and in Hampshire is 104.65mm.

It came after Storm Claudio travelled from France to the UK on Tuesday, hitting parts of the country with winds of around 70mph.

Transport for London said there were severe delays between Stratford and Richmond/Clapham Junction caused by flooding on Thursday morning.

Read more: Residents accuse council of not doing enough to prevent flooding

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02: Vehicles negotiate a flooded section of the A1 road on November 02, 2022 in London, England. Torrential rain and flash flooding hit the region late on Wednesday evening, causing traffic jams as cars became stuck in the standing water. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Wednesday night's flooding was so bad that some drivers became stranded in their own vehicles. (Getty Images)
Drivers struggle through a flooded road in Barnham, West Sussex, following heavy rainfall overnight. Picture date: Thursday November 3, 2022. (Photo by Joe Sene/PA Images via Getty Images)
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for rain and thunderstorms. (Getty Images)
Commuters with umbrellas on a rainy morning in Westminster, London. Picture date: Thursday November 3, 2022.
Commuters in London faced disruption on Thursday morning as some roads and rail routes were closed. (PA)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02: A car negotiates a flooded section of the A1 road on November 02, 2022 in London, England. Torrential rain and flash flooding hit the region late on Wednesday evening, causing traffic jams as cars became stuck in the standing water. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Drivers have been urged to take care after much of the South East and London was hit with flash flooding. (Getty Images)

Read more: Met Office issues fresh weather warning for the North East

Meanwhile a signal failure caused by flooding at Richmond and Acton Town led to no District Line service between Earl’s Court and Richmond/Ealing Broadway.

South Western Railway said that flooding had blocked lines between Fulwell and Hampton, leading to cancellations and delays.

Kent County Council warned people to “be careful out there” after it had multiple reports of weather-related issues across its road network due to “strong winds and heavy rain”.