Winds of nearly 100mph battered Britain as Storm Imogen slammed into the south coast bringing fierce gusts and torrential downpours that forced closure of important transport links.
The Environment Agency issued 62 flood warnings requiring immediate action for parts of the south west, south east and Wales as the winter storm swept in following widespread persistent rain on Sunday.
There are a further 204 alerts in place where flooding is possible.
The Met Office issued amber warnings of wind for much of the south west and there is a yellow warning of gusts throughout Monday stretching from southern Wales to the Thames Estuary.
Wind speeds of up to 93mph were recorded at The Needles off the Isle of Wight in the early hours of Monday, as gales blew constantly at around 40mph along the south coast through the night, with gusts of over 70mph in Cornwall.
Highways England said it had shut the Severn Bridge on the M48 to all vehicles and a stretch A35 bypass at Dorchester was closed due to flooding.