Intense thunderstorms bring nearly a month's worth of rain in six hours

Up to 40 mm of rain has fallen in six hours in some parts of the Anglia region. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Parts of the Anglia region have seen nearly a month's worth of rain in just a few hours during intense thunderstorms overnight.

Wattisham in Suffolk had 40 mm (1.6 inches) of rain between 1am and 7am. The average rainfall for Wattisham across the whole month of May is usually 50 mm (2 inches).

The heavy rain across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex at 6am on Tuesday. Credit: Met Office

With the Suffolk Show due to start on Wednesday in Trinity Park, Ipswich, organisers say they have a team of people out preparing the showground following the rain.

Commuters faced long delays in rush hour this morning. Many roads were flooded and in some cases police had to rescue drivers.

Norfolk & Suffolk Roads Policing Unit posted video of officers towing driver in Ipswich.

Rail passengers faced long delays on some branch lines. Flooding stopped trains from running between Reedham in Norfolk and Lowestoft. And a lightning caused delays to services between Stowmarket and Bury St Edmunds.

Rainfall totals in the Anglia region between 1am and 7am on Tuesday 31 May 2016.

  • 40 mm in Wattisham, Suffolk

  • 34 mm in Tibenham, Norfolk

  • 25 mm in Charsfield, Suffolk

  • 19 mm at Norwich airport

  • 16 mm in Cavendish, Suffolk

  • 11 mm in Cromer, Norfolk