Another couple of inches is set to hit today in the South West and northern England, bringing more risk of flooding, as stores reported running out of sandbags.
Engineers in Devon were today desperately working to try to stabilise a canal which had breached its banks following the torrential rain.
Scores of families were evacuated after a torrent of water breached the 200-year-old Great Western Canal, at Halberton, near Tiverton.
"200 years that canal's been there and we've never seen anything like this, it's the sheer volume of rainfall and unfortunately you can only do so much in trying to fight mother nature," said Stuart Hughes, from Devon County Council.
The Met Office today warned that some areas would see up to five inches of rain falling on already saturated ground, leading to further risk of rivers flooding.
Leaves and debris blocking drains could cause more problems. Gale force winds up to 70mph are also expected around the coast.
Minor delays were being experienced on cross-Channel ferry crossings from the Port of Dover in Kent this morning.
Winds gusting to Force 6 were affecting services with P&O Ferries, DFDS/LD Lines and MyFerryLink to Calais, and DFDS Seaways to Dunkirk.
The Environment Agency issued almost 150 flood alerts today.
A further 77 flood alerts have been issued for the South West, East Midlands, North West and Wales today and tomorrow. Heavy rain is also expected in the west of Scotland.
This means thousands of households are preparing for the worst with sandbags and moving valuables upstairs.
Yesterday, dozens of people were rescued, including a woman in labour from her flooded home in North Somerset.
Fire crews in the West Country received more than 130 flood-related calls during a seven-hour period, with 20 people either rescued from flooded homes or vehicles.
In Bishop Sutton, Avon, an unidentified woman in labour was rescued from her flooded home before being taken by fire engine to an ambulance and then to the Royal United Hospital, Bath, arriving still in labour.
Dozens of A and B roads were closed, vehicles were abandoned and there were a string of accidents on the M5.
Pete Fox, the Environment Agency's head of flood risk strategy, said rain falling on saturated ground could cause surface water flooding.
"There is already significant travel disruption due to the wet weather and we would urge people to remain vigilant as further flooding is possible across the South West on Thursday.
"People at flood risk should move their valuable possessions to a safe place before the heavy rain falls later tomorrow.
"We also ask that people stay safe, by staying away from swollen rivers and not attempting to drive through floodwater."
Helen Chivers, of the Met Office, said the worst weather will hit this afternoon.
"It looks like a miserable afternoon on Thursday for western and northern England with heavy downpours combined with gale force winds," she said.
Temperatures will remain around 10 to 12C.
On Friday the clouds will momentarily clear, bringing cold, clear weather.
But the unsettled weather will move in again from the South West on Saturday bringing heavy downpours across to the South East by Saturday night.
The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for the whole of the South West, South and South East over the weekend, with gales expected on the Channel coast.
Heavy rain and wind is expected across most of the country.
On Monday the heaviest rain will be in the north with the rest of the week expected to be a mixture of sunshine and showers.
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