The Environment Agency is urging people to remain vigilant, sign up to flood warnings and to check what to do in a flood as Storm Dennis continues to impact communities across the UK.

Persistent, heavy rain is continuing across the South of England on Sunday, with the weather remaining unsettled with showers and further spells of rain expected into next week. Significant river and surface water flooding is expected to continue with river levels remaining high especially in York, West Midlands, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the South of England.

As of 14:00 on 16 February there are 4 Severe Flood Warnings along the River Teme at Eardiston, Little Hereford and Ashford Carbonel, Ludlow and Tenbury Wells. Severe flood warnings mean a potential danger to life and immediate action is required. Residents should follow the advice of the emergency services.

240 flood warnings, meaning that flooding is expected, and 338 flood alerts, meaning that flooding is possible, are in place across the country. Today there has been more than 600 flood warnings and flood alerts in place across England – more than any other day on record.

Over 900 Environment Agency staff are on active incident duty and teams have put up more than 3.5km of temporary flood barriers across the country.

The EA continues to operate flood defences and flood storage reservoirs. Flood defences have so far protected more than 14,000 properties.

It has been an exceptionally wet winter so far with autumn rainfall records being broken for South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. England as a whole had its fifth wettest autumn on record.

Caroline Douglass, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said:

Storm Dennis will continue to bring disruptive weather into early next week, and there are flood warnings in place across much of England. We urge people to check the flood risk in their area and remain vigilant.

We have teams out across England today, working closely with Police, Fire and Rescue, local authorities and partners to reduce the risk of flooding and keep communities safe. We have put up more than 3.5km of temporary barriers across the country and are ready to operate large defences as required.

With the effects of climate change, we are seeing more frequent periods of extreme weather. It is important for people to be aware of their flood risk and stay safe by signing up for flood warnings, making a flood plan and remembering not to drive or walk through flood water – it’s not worth the risk.

We advise people to sign up for our free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest safety advice, call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or follow @EnvAgency on Twitter for the latest flood updates.