FLOODING has trapped people in their homes on the Isle of Man as the UK braces for two weeks' worth of rain to fall in an HOUR today.

The Met Office has warned of torrential rain and thunder for parts of the country ahead of Hurricane Lorenzo battering the UK.

Some regions can expect to get two weeks worth of rain in less than an hour.

By 7.30am this morning there were 78 flood warnings and 191 flood alerts across the nation.

Met Office meteorologist Luke Miall said: "We could see some local quite torrential downpours and a risk of surface water flooding."

He added that slow moving clouds on Tuesday meant "we could see as much as 40 to 50mm maybe in a couple of hours in some spots".

Dramatic images show people wading through knee-deep water and kayaking through the streets as cars remain trapped.

A major incident has been declared on the Isle of Man as residents are trapped in their homes and their vehicles have washed away.

The Isle of Man Constabulary have warned residents to stay upstairs and have said roads are severely flooding.

The worst-hit area appears to be Laxey as police have warned residents to not attempt to evacuate their homes amid floodwater surges.

Images show a Coastguard helicopter in the village to help people trapped in their homes as floodwater from the Laxey River surged through the streets.

One witness, Julie Graham, said on Twitter: "Coastguard helicopter on Laxey football pitch. Horrendous conditions, river has burst it's banks, people trapped in their houses.

"The emergency services are doing an amazing job."

Motorists commute to work this morning through flooded roads in Gateshead

WEATHER WARNING

The Isle of Man Constabulary said: “Persons are trapped in at least 3 houses. Fire Rescue and Coastguard are on scene with fast water rescue teams.

"A major incident has been declared with all Govt agencies helping out. We are asking that any persons trapped go up stairs and monitor media.”

At least two schools are closed and several roads are shut due to flooding.

Schools in Leicester were forced to shut amid severe floods.

Pupils were evacuated from Swithland St Leonard’s Primary School this afternoon.

Barrow’s Humphrey Perkins School was also forced to shut.

A spokesman said: “We, unfortunately, had to close due to unforeseen weather conditions, we are aiming to open tomorrow but will update you via social media and the website in case the weather conditions continue.”

In Birmingham, crews were seen rescuing several people from their cars after getting stuck under a bridge.

Many across the UK faced travel misery today as train services were suspended.

The Bradyway Tunnel in Derbyshire has flooded, forcing it to be shut.

CrossCountry trains between Chesterfield and Sheffield have been disrupted.

All lines between Carlisle and Workington are blocked to due to flooding.

National rail have warned trains could be cancelled or delayed up to an hour as replacement bus services are operating in some sections.

There has also been flooding at Thackley, between Leeds and Carlisle.

A spokesman said: "Heavy rain and flooding is, again, impacting Northern's ability to operate services this morning.

"Delays and short-notice cancellations are likely across the region as rain continues to fall on already soaked ground."

Flooding has also disrupted trains in Wales between Newton and Machynlleth.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Wales, South England, East Anglia and the Midlands between 6am and 8pm today.

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: "This could lead to the potential for flash flooding quite quickly."

Mr Madge said the heavy downpours will die out on Tuesday night, when a ridge of high pressure will see plummeting temperatures with the potential for a grass frost in some northern areas.

The Environment Agency said the North East of England had more rainfall than previously forecasted and flood alerts are still in place for the rest of the afternoon.

Parts of Tyne and Wear, Tees and Northumberland experienced 20mm to 40mm of rainfall.

This comes just days before Hurricane Lorenzo is set to bring more misery.

The precautionary warning was issued over fears that sea defences between Hunstanton and Snettisham, Norfolk, could be breached.

It applies to 3,000 properties but the vast majority are holiday caravans.

Weather forecasters reckon large swathes of the country could be left under water.

A Met Office yellow rain weather warning covering the South remains in place until 8pm.

It said fast-flowing or deep floodwaters could cause “a danger to life”.

Some communities could even be cut off.

The Environment Agency said it had issued more than 150 flood alerts and warnings covering the UK.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said officers rescued an adult and a child trapped in a vehicle caught in floodwater in Bretby, near Burton upon Trent, at around 8pm on Monday.

At around 9pm, crews from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service went to the aid of a woman in a car stuck in floodwater in Cattal Moor Lane, near York.

Photographs taken at the Ship Inn pub in Mevagissey, Cornwall, last night showed floodwater inside the pub and nearby roads submerged.

In west Norfolk, a "precautionary evacuation notice" has been issued for the coastal areas of Hunstanton, Heacham and Snettisham.

'DANGER TO LIFE'

The Environment Agency said a combination of a high tide due at 8.40am  today and predicted force six north-westerly winds could result in flooding in the West Norfolk area.

People are being told to leave caravans and properties in the affected area between 7am and 10am on Tuesday and not to return until it is safe to do so.

They have been urged to take with them any medication, pets and anything urgent they might need over the next 48 hours.

The public are also being advised to take care along beaches, promenades, coastal footpaths and roads as large waves and sea spray could be dangerous.

In the South West, the Environment Agency told people to avoid the seafront and check flood warnings due to forecast high tides and winds.

On Tuesday it said predicted heavy showers could bring a "small chance of fast-flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life".

Other warnings are in place along the coast in Cumbria and the North West, the North East and Yorkshire, the South East coast including Dover and Folkestone, and Cornwall in the South West.

The tail-end of Hurricane Lorenzo is then expected to give Britain a kicking on Thursday.

Met Office weather forecaster Nicola Maxey said: “It’s going to be a pretty wet and wild few days.

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'LIGHTNING & HAIL'

“There is a yellow rain warning in place today.

“The heaviest showers will begin in the South West and Wales before moving eastwards as the day progresses.

“The concern is that this rain is going to fall on already saturated areas which could leading to localised flooding in places.

“If that wasn’t bad enough, there’s a possibility of lightning and hail mixed in with it.”

There will be some respite tomorrow before what’s left of Lorenzo arrives from the Atlantic late on Thursday.

Ms Maxey added: “By the time it reaches us it will have weakened significantly to an ex-tropical storm.”

She said the 4.2 inches (106mm) average rainfall total for September was above the UK average of 3.8 inches (96mm).

But some areas have seen nearly double their September average.

Dorset typically gets 2.8 inches (72mm) — but for the month a staggering 5.1 inches (129mm) fell.

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