The threat of flash flooding on Sunday afternoon was focused over parts of the Midwest, where flood watches have been posted from Missouri to West Virginia, including the cities of Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast to sweep across the Midwest region over the next 24 hours.

Slow-moving storms could bring up to 11 inches of rain, raising the risk of flash floods on Sunday, particularly in Illinois and Indiana, forecasters said.

Most of the country was blanketed by yellow rain and thunderstorm warnings, with the Met Office saying this could bring flash flooding, power cuts and disruption to travel. But the flooding forecast for London and south-east England on Saturday morning did not occur.