Almost a month's rain is set to fall in parts of England and Scotland today.

The downpours come amid warnings of wind speeds of up to 70mph over the next 24 hours. Yesterday a woman was killed by a falling tree branch in Kew Gardens as gusts of wind reached 30mph.

The Environment Agency issued has 56 flood alerts - 31 in the south-west, 19 in the north-east and six in the Midlands.

Tom Tobler, forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said north-east Scotland could be hit with the strongest winds, with gales of up to 70mph possible.

He said northern areas of England and parts of southern Scotland could see 60mm of rain fall in the next 24 hours - three quarters of a whole month's average rainfall (80mm) for September in England and Wales.

The forecaster said: "It's almost a month's rainfall in certain areas. It is certainly a lot of rain.

"There will be some flooding. I imagine the figure for total rainfall in the month will get up to the average tomorrow, if not above the average figure."

It is a stark change from earlier in the month, when parts of Britain basked in warm temperatures in the mid-20s, a welcome break from the rain and wind which dogged much of July and August.

Last night, the Environment Agency warned people to be prepared for significant disruption.

Its director of operations, David Jordan, said: "We are expecting flooding across the country from this evening (Sunday) and in to Monday and Tuesday.

"We strongly urge people to sign up to flood warnings, keep a close eye on local weather forecasts and be prepared for the possibility of flooding. We also ask that people stay safe, by staying away from swollen rivers and not attempting to drive through floodwater."

The woman's death at Kew is not being treated as suspicious and a police spokesman could not confirm whether the matter would be referred to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

An air ambulance was sent to the scene and extensive efforts were made to revive the woman, a London Ambulance Service spokesman said.

"We were called just before 2.05pm to reports that a large tree branch had fallen on a woman in Kew Gardens," he said.

"We sent an ambulance crew, three responders in cars, an officer and London's Air Ambulance to the scene.

"Extensive efforts were made to resuscitate the patient, but sadly she was pronounced dead at the scene."

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• Autumn weather September 26th

  Water Cascades past houses in Newburn, Newcastle today after yesterdays floods left them in a state of collapse.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Water Cascades past houses in Newburn, Newcastle today after yesterdays floods left them in a state of collapse.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  An aerial view showing cars travelling along the A64 Scarborough to Leeds road as it passes over flood water from the River Ouse in York, North Yorkshire, communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left 400 homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  An aerial view showing the village of Sutton upon Derwent, East Yorkshire, surrounded by flood water from the nearby River Derwent as communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left 400 homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  The High Street, in Newburn, Newcastle, where flooding has left business owners devastated and deposited huge amounts of mud and debris.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  The High Street, in Newburn, Newcastle, where flooding has left business owners devastated and deposited huge amounts of mud and debris.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Two actors from a tourist attraction The York Dungeon, make their way into work along a flooded street in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Residents carry sandbags to riverside properties in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Riverside offices were difficult to access with rising floodwater in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Floodwater rises in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Floodwaters rise in city centre streets in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car submerged from yesterday's floods in Newburn in Newcastle.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car submerged from yesterday's floods in Newburn in Newcastle. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos. See PA story WEATHER Wet PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Photo credit should read: Owen Humpreys/PA Wire

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car submerged from yesterday's floods in Newburn in Newcastle. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos. See PA story WEATHER Wet PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Photo credit should read: Owen Humpreys/PA Wire

• Autumn weather September 26th

  The fields surrounding Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire are flooded following countrywide storms.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Flooding in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Natalie Stroughair sandbags a taxi office in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  The bridge in the centre of Tadcaster which has been closed as flood waters from the River Wharfe continue rise.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A woman gets a piggy back ride to a Taxi Office in the centre of York, as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Watching the floodwater rise in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Office workers are evacuated from their premises in York city centre as floodwater rises in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Rescuers bid to save ailing whale

  A 26ft (8m) minke whale washed up after gale force winds and high seas at Druridge Bay, Northumberland.

• Rescuers bid to save ailing whale

  A 26ft (8m) minke whale washed up after gale force winds and high seas at Druridge Bay, Northumberland.

• Rescuers bid to save ailing whale

  A 26ft (8m) minke whale washed up after gale force winds and high seas at Druridge Bay, Northumberland.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car drives through flood water on Noahs Ark Lane, Mobberley, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Watching the water levels rise as riverside properties in York are under threat from the River Ouse which continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Natalie Stroughair sandbags a taxi office in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Council workers sandbag riverside properties in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A man looks over rising flood water from the River Wharfe in the centre of Tadcaster, North Yorkshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Watching the floodwater rise in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Watching the floodwater rise in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Elevated walkways carry pedestrians over floodwater in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A local riverside resident carries tea to Council workers who were placing sandbags at riverside properties in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  A resident of Knaresborough wades through water following flooding from the River Nidd in the town.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car makes its way through Rickerby Park in Carlisle after more heavy overnight rain.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Water surrounds the 18th green at Stoney Holme golf course in Carlisle after more heavy rain overnight.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Water covers the fairways at Stoney Holme golf course in Carlisle after more heavy overnight rain.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Flood water covers grassy areas of Rickerby Park in Carlisle after more heavy overnight rain.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A cyclist avoids flood water on the closed A34 near Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  A resident of Knaresborough wades through water following flooding from the River Nidd in the town.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A van is forced to turn around after flood water closed the A34 near Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A cyclist avoids flood water on the closed A34 near Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car drives through flood water on Noahs Ark Lane, Mobberley, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car drives through flood water on Noahs Ark Lane, Mobberley, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters rescue stranded motorists from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters rescue stranded motorists from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  A stranded motorist is helped by a member of the emergency services after being rescued from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters rescue stranded motorists from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Residents look on in Morpeth as the water levels rise near their homes, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters inspect a stranded lorry on a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters make their way along a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.