FLOODS have sparked airport chaos, shut motorways and blocked railways today as 18million Brits battle to get home for Christmas.
Gatwick passengers have been hit with road closures and train cancellations as torrential rain lashed Frantic Friday.
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The M23 is shut in both directions and landslides have blocked Southern train lines sparking "do not travel" warnings.
Cars trying to get to the airport are sat bumper-to-bumper in long queues as a large chunk of the motorway is expected to be closed for "several hours" this morning.
One driver tweeted: "3 hours so far on the M23 northbound and queuing to get off at Pease Pottage. Keep well away."
More than 31 million Brits are expected to hit the roads this weekend to try to beat bumper-to-bumper Christmas traffic.
Passengers face train chaos in Kent, Surrey and Sussex as delays and cancellations have been warned.
Southern has said: “The Balcombe area is currently flooded. Due to the consistent rainfall, the water level has reached rail level height, this means trains are not able to to travel over the track.
“Network Rail have dispatched track maintenance teams to the area, to assess and take whatever action may help.
“We strongly advise to not travel at this time.
CHRISTMAS TRAVEL CHAOS
“You may wish to use alternative routes to reach your destination, or make your own way to your destination. Please be mindful that roads will also be suffering from the increased rainfall.
“You should strongly consider making private travel arrangements in order to get to your flight in time.”
Pictures of sodden train tracks covered in muddy floodwaters have emerged, as desperate Brits start to try and make their way on long-awaited holidays.
Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson said: "There could be localised flooding. Stay in touch with the forecast, there could be delays to transport."
Gatwick Express services have been suspended on what is the busiest day of the festive period for UK airports.
Southern and Thameslink said rail replacement buses have been ordered but warned they are being delayed "due to road conditions".
Downpours also caused disruption to Great Western Railway services between Exeter St Davids and Taunton.
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Yesterday Britain was hit with flash floods as a major incident was declared in Cornwall and homes were evacuated.
Torrential rain left large stretches of the main A30 impassable as the Environment Agency urged drivers to avoid swathes of flood water.
And today Devon and Cornwall Police said flooding across the force area has made "a number of roads impassable".
They urged motorists to take extra care and avoid driving into standing water.
Norfolk and Suffolk Police said roads in both counties were affected by floodwater.
Last Christmas thousands of passengers were hit as Gatwick Airport was targeted by drones - meaning planes were grounded for days.
It comes as millions of drivers will flood the roads this weekend to try and beat bumper-to-bumper Christmas traffic.
Research undertaken by the RAC and INRIX reveals traffic will peak today, with around 4.7million extra vehicles on the road.
For those trying to beat the queues, congestion is expected to be at its worst between 12pm and 7pm.
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Best and worst times to travel in the lead up to Christmas
Friday - December 20
- Best: After 8pm
- Worst: Between 12pm and 7pm
Saturday - December 21
- Best: After 4pm
- Worst: Between 10am and 3pm
Sunday - December 22
- Best: After 5pm
- Worst: Between 10am and 4pm
Monday - December 23
- Best: After 4pm
- Worst: Between 10am and 3pm
Tuesday - December 24
- Best: Before 10am
- Worst: Between 2pm and 6pm
Drivers are tipped to face an hour delay on the M6 north between the J5 to J10A from 8am, while clockwise trips on the M25 between J15 and J19 will have a 46-minute wait.
But there will be a slight reprieve on both days after 8pm, according to the data.
Brits attempting to complete their last-minute shopping will face severe delays between 10am and 3pm on Saturday (December 21) and Sunday (December 22) due to an additional 3.7million and 2.5million motors on the road.
On both days, traffic will begin to ease around 4pm for those prepared to wait it out.
The M40 south between J11 and J9 will have a 42-minute delay on Saturday from 1pm, while drivers on the M1 north between J12 and J16 will face a 97-minute wait on Sunday from midday.
Sections of the M25 on Monday will also be at a standstill just before 3pm, due to a 69-minute delay between J15 and J19.
Ben Aldous, RAC patrol of the year, said: "Our figures suggest many more drivers are planning leisure trips by car in the run-up to this Christmas this year, so bumper-to-bumper traffic on some motorways and major A-roads is going to be near-guaranteed.
"While Christmas Day is still a little way off, it looks as though millions of drivers are planning to complete their getaway trips this week.
Tips for dealing with traffic jams
- Travel time: Most traffic queues are caused by too many cars on the same roads at the same time. If you can travel outside the peak times, you can easily miss them.
- Be prepared: Make sure you conduct all necessary service checks on your motor before you set off. Many summer breakdowns are avoidable – punctures for instance can be caused by a tyre that is in poor condition or just not inflated properly. And ageing batteries can struggle in lots of stop-start traffic.
- Keep it fresh: Hungry, thirsty or tired passengers are recipes for in-car irritability – and ‘carguments’. So when setting out, pack enough food and water to keep your passengers happy, and add in enough breaks along the way.
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"Unfortunately, when you add in the prospect of unsettled weather, with heavy rain and strong winds in some parts, these are likely to be pretty unpleasant drives for many of us.
"Popular days for travel also tend to be common days for breakdowns, and our teams will be working flat-out over the whole festive period, regardless of what the weather has in store, to give drivers complete peace of mind should their vehicles let them down.
"But drivers should remember that a small amount of preparation before setting out can dramatically cut the chances of breaking down in the first place – checking tyre tread and pressure, as well as ensuring oil and coolant are at the right levels, is a must before any long journey."
Gatwick Airport Christmas getaway flood chaos as M23 closed and train lines blocked
