The M23 and other motorways in the UK are at risk of flooding as a band of rain descends across the country. Thousands of people could see their journeys affected as they prepare to travel for Christmas.

The M23 in Sussex was impacted by flooding on Thursday last week, as a river burst its banks into the London-Brighton traffic artery.

Sussex Roads Police closed parts of the inundated road from Thursday to the early hours of Friday morning.

Traffic incidents earlier today (December 23) closed the motorway once again, but the incident was resolved by 1pm.

Currently, a link road from the M3 J2 westbound to M25 J12 clockwise is closed due to flooding, as is the A27 eastbound between A2025 and A283.

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Flooding at Haw Bridge due to rising river levels has also closed the B4213.

Several other roads across the UK have also closed across the UK due to accidents.

For information about which routes are affected by the weather or other incidents, people should visit highwaysengland.co.uk.

Weather agencies expect the UK will see more heavy rain before Christmas.

According to both the Met Office and Environment Agency, the UK will see damage from heavy rain in the run-up to Christmas, with weather and flood warnings issued.

The Met Office currently has a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms over the southwest, in effect from 5am to 1pm on Christmas Eve.

The warning reads: “Heavy showers and some thunderstorms are expected to move east during Tuesday morning.

“These will contain hail, which could briefly cover roads, a risk of lightning and also squally winds with gusts of 60 mph possible.”

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The Environment Agency has released a total of 193 flood notices for today alone, as rain continues to stream over the UK.

Of the notices, 54 are flood ‘warnings’ which specify people should take ‘immediate action’ in the face of imminent flooding.

The other 139 are flood ‘alerts’ which warn of possible flooding, and urge people to prepare for the worst.

Full information on how to prepare for flooding is available on the Environment Agency’s website.

The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings for the following areas:

– A361 East Lyng to Burrowbridge

– Alfriston

– B1040 Thorney to Whittlesey Road to the South of the River Nene

– Barcombe Mills

– Bersted on the Aldingbourne Rife

– Bulverhythe

– Curry Moor and Hay Moor

– Groundwater flooding for the Bere Stream

– Groundwater flooding for the Crane

– Groundwater flooding for the Devils Brook

– Groundwater flooding for the Ebble Valley

– Groundwater flooding for the Gussage

– Groundwater flooding for the Hooke

– Groundwater flooding for the Iwerne

– Groundwater flooding for the Piddle Valley

– Groundwater flooding for the South Winterbourne Valley

– Groundwater flooding for the Sydling

– Groundwater flooding in the Allen Vale at Monkton Up Wimborne and Wimborne St Giles

– Groundwater flooding in the Allen Vale at Sixpenny Handley

– Groundwater flooding in the Cerne Valley

– Groundwater flooding in the Cranborne Chase in West Hampshire – Damerham and Martin

– Groundwater flooding in the Cranborne Chase in West Hampshire – Rockbourne

– Groundwater flooding in the Lower Allen Vale

– Little Venice Country Park and Marina

– Lower Avon at The Bridges and Stubbings Meadow in Ringwood

– Lower Avon from Ringwood to Christchurch

– Lower Frome from Dorchester to East Stoke

– Lower Frome from East Stoke to Wareham

– Lower Stour at Redhill and Wheatplot Home Sites

– Lower Stour from Sturminster Marshall to Christchurch

– Low lying properties in the Upper Hull catchment

– Middle Avon from Salisbury to Ringwood

– North Bank Road alongside the River Nene, east of Peterborough and west of – Dog-in-a-Doublet Sluice

– River Avon at Strensham and Bredon

– River Kennet from Denford down to Marsh Benham

– River Loddon at Twyford, Charvil and Wargrave

– River Medway between Yalding and Maidstone

– River Medway, River Teise and River Beult at Yalding

– River Piddle from Alton Pancras to Wareham

– River Ray for Islip

– River Severn at Abbots Court, Deerhurst

– River Severn at Apperley and The Leigh

– River Severn at Ashleworth

– River Severn at Chaceley and Haw Bridge

– River Severn at Court Meadow, Kempsey and Callow End

– River Severn at Hanley Castle and Saxons Lode

– River Severn at Hanley Road, Upton upon Severn

– River Severn at Severn Ham, Tewkesbury

– River Thame at Dorchester

– River Thames at Hamm Court

– River Thames at Purley Village

– River Thames at Thames Ditton Island

– River Thames for Shiplake, Lower Shiplake and Wargrave

– The Mardyke from North Stifford to Purfleet

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