URGENT severe flood warnings are in force in the wake of Storm Franklin.

Heavy and blustery downpours will continue to drench Britain for at least the next two days, with thousands urged to be on guard to evacuate their homes.

There are two severe flood warnings, 116 warnings and 118 alerts in place in England as the rain sweeps in.

A further six warnings and 14 alerts cover Wales, while in Scotland there are two warnings and one alert.

The River Severn will bear the brunt of the lashings, where rising water levels pose a "significant danger to life" and residents are urged to "act now".

Anyone living nearby has been told to move possessions and valuables off the ground or to safety, and to turn off gas, electricity and water.

And the Met Office "strongly recommends" residents evacuate from behind the defences due to the risk.

The warnings have sparked major incidents in Worcestershire and Shropshire, with some told only to remain at home if they have enough food, water and medical supplies to last at least a week.

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It follows the hammering of Storm Franklin which saw winds of 87mph recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight on Sunday night, and 79mph gusts in Capel Curig in Wales on Monday morning.

While the worst of the storm – the third to batter the nation in a week – is over, there is plenty more "unsettled" weather to come.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: "Storm Franklin may have cleared away and the weather looks calmer for much of this week, but it's far from calm.

"It's still at times going to be pretty lively.

"The next weather system approaching will bring most of us some rain during the first part of Tuesday.

"It is going to be raining hard across western Scotland and Northern Ireland first thing on Tuesday, and a wet morning rush hour across north west England and north and west Wales.

"There will be rain at low levels, but over the hills there will be some snow mixed in.

"Then the next weather system coming in bringing rain across the north west, strengthening winds.

"Dry for much of England, but still blustery with the rain picking up once more on Wednesday."

BLUSTERY CONDITIONS

The showers and strong gusts will bring "difficult driving conditions for many".

Brits were yesterday urged not to travel, and further disruption is expected today.

Flights to Manchester Airport were diverted to London Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham, East Midlands, Newcastle and Dublin as strong winds meant it was too dangerous to land in the North West.

Gusts also paralysed train networks, with reduced services running since last week's Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice.

All three storms left 1.4 million households without power, some for as long as 72 hours.

As of Monday, 30,000 remained in the dark, though UK Power Networks last night said 98 per cent of properties had had their electricity restored.

Further showers, wintry over higher ground, are expected tonight, with clearer conditions bringing rural frosts further south.

Then tomorrow, "frequent and blustery" downpours will lash the north, turning to snow by the evening.

And there is yet more rain forecast for Thursday and into the weekend, with "blustery wintry showers" in the north and west.

Storm Franklin may have cleared away and the weather looks calmer for much of this week, but it's far from calm.

The latest weather misery comes after ferocious Storm Eunice killed four people and plunged millions of homes into darkness on Friday, and Storm Dudley wrecked homes and cars last week.

The treacherous conditions led to travel chaos, flight cancellations, power cuts and police forces being inundated with calls.

Train networks were plagued by flying debris – and there was extensive damage to buildings and homes with the roof of the O2 ripped off.

Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said extreme weather, like the storms that have lashed the UK, could become a feature of the country's climate.

Katharine Smith, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: "Heavy rain, affecting already wet areas, is likely to cause significant river flooding along the River Severn until Wednesday.

"We have teams out on the ground taking preventative action, closing flood gates, deploying temporary barriers and moving pumps and other response equipment to areas of highest risk.

"While a handful of properties have sadly flooded over the past few days, Environment Agency defences have protected more than 40,000 properties despite record river levels.

"We advise people to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car."

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