Severe weather warnings were issued last night for large swathes of Britain as more torrential downpours are on the way.

The soaking, which has seen the soggiest April in 100 years, will ­continue with a month's rain expected to fall ­tomorrow night.

Motorists have been warned to take care as roads will be battered by gales reaching 50mph.

The Environment Agency, which has issued three flood ­warnings and 19 flood alerts, said more floods are expected. The Met Office said heavy overnight rain will hit the East today, with Scotland facing up to an inch of rain. Forecasters also said eight inches of snow will hit mountains across the northern half of Scotland by tonight.

Severe weather alerts have also been issued for the Midlands, the South and Wales for tomorrow night and Thursday morning, when up to two inches of rain will fall - a month's worth of rain in just 24 hours. The North will also be hit by ­showers.

The Met Office said: "Persistent heavy rain will spread across the country during Wednesday and Thursday.

"Due to the saturated nature of the ground, this may lead to ­disruption from localised ­surface water flooding across south-western Britain. Accompanying strong winds may increase to gale force, especially near the South Coast." The fresh downpour will follow a grim bank holiday weekend that saw Britain shiver as temperatures plummeted as low as -6C (21F) in the Scottish Highlands - colder than Siberia.

Sun lovers would have been better off on in Mirnvy, eastern ­Russia, which hit a sunny 17C while the ­Midlands here had to make do with 9C.

Beaches in ­Bournemouth and Brighton were nearly deserted yesterday as visitors stayed indoors away from the blustery winds and drizzle.

But one brave girl, Elodie May, two, wrapped up in a thick coat to keep warm as she built sandcastles on ­Bridlington beach, Yorkshire.

Forecaster Brian Gaze, of The Weather Outlook, said: "It was a very poor bank holiday - although that's not unusual, unfortunately.

"And with massive Wednesday afternoon temperature differences - 1C on higher ground in the North and 18C a couple of ­hundred of miles south - there is potential for very ­significant rainfall. Parts can expect to get very wet."

Met Office forecaster Tom Morgan said: "Unfortunately there is no sign of a prolonged dry period in the next two to three weeks."