A number of roads have flooded across Essex after hours of heavy rainfall.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for the area, warning that flooding is likely.
Maldon (Promenade Park) has collected 14mm in the past hour. Heaviest of the rain now affecting Wickford, Basildon and Rayleigh.
— Essex Weather Centre (@EssexWeather) August 9, 2017
People are warned that homes and businesses may flood and that tranport routes are likely to be affected.
A lot of heavy rainfall around for the evening rush-hour, please take extra care on the roads. Here is the latest radar: pic.twitter.com/4UB7a23jaD
— Essex Weather Centre (@EssexWeather) August 9, 2017
Tom Defty from the Essex Weather Centre said the heavy downpours should clear, with drier weather expected over the weekend although the mercury is not expected to threaten the scorching temperatures of the early summer.
He said: “It is the same area of low pressure in the North Sea going round and round and it should clear.
“What is concerning is the temperature - the 14 degrees on Wednesday is nine or ten lower than average.
“This year it felt like we skipped spring as we had a harsh winter and then a very warm start to summer.
“It has been very good weather for thunderstorms.”
There is advice on how to drive in heavy rain here.
Maldon
Maldon topped the tables for the most amount of rainfall in Essex yesterday.
As of 6.55pm, more than 1.6 inches of rain had fallen in the town.
Maldon topping the tables with rainfall today. As of 18:55 BST, 42.7mm (1.6in) has fallen so far today with more to come.
— Essex Weather Centre (@EssexWeather) August 9, 2017
We've recorded 72mm today at Salcott, 20 minutes north of Maldon - not surprising the road into the village is flooded!
— Julia Hammond (@juliamhammond) August 9, 2017
@EssexWeather 8-8-17 South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, Essex. Tornado forming pic.twitter.com/8XmxQT61E5
— Arif Khan (KHANAGE) (@ARIFKHANlive) August 9, 2017
Canvey
Several roads have flooded, including Steli Avenue, and traffic is slow moving around the island as a result.
Wickford
The underpass in High Street, Wickford, is completely flooded.
It is impassable and cars are being turned around.
There is also no pedestrian access under the bridge.
Witham
Residents have reported that Braxted Park Road is covered with a few inches of water.
The bridge under the A12 at Rivenhall is also flooded.
Yesterday youngsters were spotted canoeing down Brook Walk in Witham.
Colchester/North Essex
The wet weather has caused Dovercourt beach and Castle Park to be desterted.
However, the wet weather isn't bad news for everyone.
Daisy Bailey, who runs Go Bananas in the Cowdray Centre, Colchester, said the soft play area was much busier than usual.
She said: “We were expecting it to be quiet - the summer holidays are when people want to be doing outdoor activities but it has been manic.
“It has been so busy we need more room and more car parking space but we are coping well and people haven’t had to wait long.
“It has been like October half term in August.
“We don’t mind the rain.”
Here is a great pic of some ducks swimming outside a caravan in Clacton.
CHELMSFORD
@carolkirkwood #britishsummertime is definitely here in #Chelmsford #essex pic.twitter.com/tuxyGG1K8s
— NuclearSocks (@dannorth26) August 9, 201
@essexlive Wow alot of rain in Chelmsford so far. pic.twitter.com/KsaTiEROfT
— Tornadotitan (@TORNADOTITAN) August 9, 2017
Following today's heavy rain, please note that crews will only attend flooding incidents where there is risk to life https://t.co/nch8cMQchA
— Essex Fire Service (@ECFRS) August 9, 2017
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