Weather warning issued as Storm Claudia batters Bristol and Bath
An amber alert is in place for parts of South Gloucestershire
Forecasters have predicted a washout start to the weekend in the South West, with warnings of heavy rain and possible flooding.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain in Bristol and Bath, due to come into force at 6am on Friday (14th) and last for 24 hours.
An amber warning is also in place for parts of South Gloucestershire, which could see up to 80mm of rain, with deep floodwater causing a danger to life.
The Met Office said the weather may lead to power cuts, travel disruption and damage to buildings.
Those travelling are urged to be cautious.
Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: "Storm Claudia will bring very heavy rainfall to a large swathe of central and southern England and Wales on Friday into Saturday.
"This rain will become slow moving and some areas could see up to a month's worth of rain in 24 hours.
"Much of this will fall on saturated ground, increasing the chances of flooding and contributing to the amber warnings we have issued.
"Within the amber warning areas, some could see in excess of 150mm accumulate during the event, with 60-80mm fairly widely."
Unlike many named storms, Storm Claudia is not expected to directly cross the country, and instead will maintain its position in the West, the Met Office said.
It has been named by the Spanish because of its ongoing impact in the Canary Islands earlier this week.
The AA has advised against travelling in the "hazardous weather", saying: "Safety comes first.
"Conditions may change quickly, so stay updated and make sure you're prepared before you travel."
It added: "Flood water can appear quickly, and even shallow water can be dangerous - never try to drive through it."
Flood duty manager Ben Lukey said: "Storm Claudia will bring heavy prolonged rainfall across parts of England, with significant surface water flooding probable across parts of central England on Friday.
"River flooding impacts are also possible tomorrow and into Saturday."
He added: "Environment Agency teams are out on the ground to clear any debris from watercourses and preparing to operate flood defences when needed."