More than 250 warnings and alerts for flooding were in force across England after a week of relentless rain.
The Environment Agency warned last night that flooding of homes and businesses and travel disruptions are expected.
Altogether 57 warnings were in place for the south-west, the Midlands and parts of Yorkshire and The Humber.
This is in addition to as many as 157 alerts, meaning that flooding is possible in further regions.
This comes ahead of people finally experiencing warmer temperatures later today.
Low cloud clearing to leave a brighter start for many on Friday
Heavy showers slowly moving into parts of the north and west
Though it may be a grey start to Friday as most are waking up to generally cloudy skies and unsettled weather again, there will be some sunny spells on the horizon.
The Met Office stressed the best of any sunshine is strictly reserved for the east as it will remain generally windy with coastal gales across Wales and the southwest.
In the evening, rain will slowly clear eastwards with some clearer spells developing in the south.
Later in the night and through the early hours of Saturday morning, showers will spread in from the west, some of which will band together to form spells of rain.
Forecasters say most of the south of England will see temperatures of 12°C on Saturday.
Writing on its website, the Met Office says the outlook for Friday to Sunday will ‘feel mild.’
It says: ‘An unsettled end to the week with further heavy showers and rain.
‘Often windy, but feeling mild when sheltered with temperatures climbing above average for the time of year.’
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