A weather warning for heavy rain was brought forward after bad weather hit the county earlier than expected.

A yellow weather warning for rain had been issued by the Met Office yesterday for this evening but that was brought into force at 5am today. It is due to last until midnight.

It has been extended to cover more of southern England and the start time made earlier.

The warning says: “Heavy rain or showers falling on saturated ground may cause some disruption, particularly to travel.”

It added that spray and flooding on roads would probably make journey times longer and bus and train services will probably be affected, with journey times taking longer.

Flooding of a few homes and businesses is possible and large waves may lead to dangerous conditions along some English Channel coastlines.

There were reports of numerous accidents from early this morning.

One lane was closed at about 9.30am and there was queueing traffic after a tree fell on the M20 London-bound between J10 A2070 (Ashford South) and J9 A20 Fougeres Way (Ashford). That cleared at about 10.45am. Also this morning, another tree came down on the A2 London-bound at Canterbury Road.

The A255 St Peter's Road in Margate was shut in both directions at about 9.15am after a lorry and a car crashed between the A256 Westwood Road and Queen Mother Hospital.

Just before 11am, traffic was temporarily held on the M20 London-bound near the Channel Tunnel when the entrance slip road flooded.

Ensfield Road in Leigh was closed in both directions due to flooding around Ensfield Bridge.

The A228 was partially blocked due to an accident between Old Church Road and High Street, Pembury, and there were reports of two cars crashing on the B2011 Folkestone Road near Dover Priory Station.

The M2 coastbound carriageway, between J6 (Faversham) and J7 (Canterbury), saw a three-car collision. One of vehicles is said to have aquaplaned and was facing the wrong way.

The Environment Agency issued several flood alerts just after 10am.

A statement said: “River levels continued to fall overnight following Storm Ciarán but are expected to rise again this morning and throughout today in response to further rainfall.

“We expect flooding to affect low-lying land and roads close to the rivers. Rain is forecast throughout the day, clearing overnight. Sunday is expected to be dry.

“Our incident response staff are actively monitoring the situation and are prepared to respond if required. Please avoid using low-lying footpaths near local watercourses.”

It said the messages would be updated on Saturday evening, or as the situation changes.

The alerts were issued for:

Rivers Eden, Eden Brook and Kent Ditch from Blindley Heath to Penshurst including Edenbridge and Hever, for on and around Water Lane, Haxted Road and rural areas between Edenbridge and Penshurst;

River Medway from Penshurst to Hampstead Lock at Yalding, including the Leigh Flood Storage area, the Ensfield Road, Tonbridge, Paddock Wood, the Hop Farm, East Peckham, Branbridges and Hale Street, and particularly around Tonbridge Sports Ground and Postern Lane;

River Medway from Hampstead Lock at Yalding to Allington Lock, including East Farleigh, Wateringbury, Teston and Teston Park, Tovil and Maidstone including Millennium Park;

Upper River Stour where flooding is possible for communities on the Great Stour from Charing Heath to the A2070 including Ashford, communities on the East Stour, communities on the Whitewater and Ruckinge Dykes and the Aylesford Stream.

It follows heavy rain and wind which hit Kent this week amid Storm Ciaran.

It comes after amber alert for wind earlier in the week, which saw gales get as high as 85 mph in coastal areas.