Parts of Britain are bracing for heavy rain on Monday after downpours caused flooding in many parts of the country, leaving sections of the transport network struggling to cope.
The Environment Agency recorded 85 localized flood warnings across England and Wales this morning, and 203 alerts for possible flooding.
“There will be another spell of rain across much of the UK on Monday,” Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson said.
“There are warnings in force for Wales and western England.”
After a brief respite on Sunday morning, the north of England wasforecast to see up to 70 mm of rain in 24 hours, causing treacherous travel conditions.
Trains between Blackpool North and Preston were delayed due to flooding and stretches of track in Cheshire were also hit.
Speed restrictions were put in place between Wigan and Southport, and Leeds and Harrogate.
There was no service from Sheffield to Manchester due to water on the tracks, and there were speed restrictions in the opposite direction.
The rail operator warned it had imposed speed restrictions on many parts of its network due to safety concerns.
Northern Rail asked cycling fans turning out for the final day ofthe UCI Road World Championshipsin North Yorkshire to rethink their travel plans after the route had to be changed to avoid flooding.
The fanzone in Harrogate also had to be closed.
Despite the heavy weather, the Men’s Elite Road Race went ahead although organisers had to amend the route to skip some of the most scenic parts of the Upper Dales.
Undeterred, thousands of fans lined the route with umbrellas and wellies to watch one of the biggest events on the cycling calendar.
Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, said: “We were really disappointed for the race organizations as they had to take the decision to curtail the route.
“We were particularly sorry for those communities in Reeth and Grinton who were looking forward to the race after the difficulties they have faced during July’s flash floods.
“(The) decision was unavoidable because we had to ensure the safety of cyclists and spectators and to concentrate assets in other places to enable the race to go ahead at all.
“But so many heroic spectators still came out for what has been an extremely wet but a spectacular finish to a great week with many highlights.”
Elsewhere, the inaugural Regatta London race, which was due to take place on the River Thames on Sunday, had to be cancelled.
Organisers said they were unable to run the event safely due to the stormy weather affecting the river’s water quality.
More rain is on the way, falling on ground that is already waterlogged.
Alex Burkill, a meteorologist with the Met Office, said: “Monday is going to start off pretty fine for most places, however a system is going to come in through the day reaching south-west England and Wales by 10 am tomorrow morning and spreading eastwards as we go through the day.
“By evening rush hour, much of England and Wales will be pretty wet.”
Another 70 mm could fall over the highest areas.
Northern Ireland and Scotland are due some more sunshine after a fairly bright day on Sunday.
Mr Burkill said: “Monday will be another very wet one for England and Wales but for Scotland and Northern Ireland, they are going to have another fairly dry day, just a few showers and some bright spells.”
He said parts of England and Wales could see highs of (C) 66 2F) or (C (68 F), a little above average for the time of year, but this would be masked by the wind and rain.
“It’s not going to feel pleasant by any means,” he said.
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