Motorists in north Essex were today facing potential traffic chaos with torrential rain.

Despite few incidents during this morning's rush-hour predictions that the appalling weather, roadworks and the start of the school half-term holidays were likely to bring many routes to a grinding halt were repeated.

Though the AA argued that heavy downpours could mean people would stay at home.

The QE2 bridge at Dartford was closed for two hours due to high winds and there was minor flooding in a slip road at Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, caused by leaves blocking a gully.

Roadworks are taking place on the A12 at the Brentwood by-pass, close to the junction of the M25, on both tracks and at Boreham.

The gloomy scenario for today was forecast by in-car computer company, TrafficMaster.

An AA Roadwatch spokesman said it was impossible to accurately predict traffic jams, he admitted "things are not looking good".

Floods closed a number of roads nationwide this morning, including the A40 in Abergwili, Carmarthenshire, the A68 in Darlington, Co Durham, and the A57 at Glossop, Derbyshire.

Parts of South Wales have been hit by the worst floods in 20 years with water up to 3ft deep as several rivers burst their banks.

Red flood alerts are in force on 19 rivers across South Wales. The Environment Agency warned residents near threatened areas to stay on alert because of the forecast of more heavy rain.

Six rivers in the South West were also put on amber flood alert overnight, with a further 13 yellow alerts being issued.

And mopping-up operations were under way today in the West of Scotland where several roads remain closed in the aftermath of yesterday's downpours.

Safety experts are warning drivers to stay at home if possible this weekend, with the dark evenings following the clocks going back adding further to the potential for trouble.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.