Homes have been swamped by floodwater and stranded drivers have been rescued from submerged roads after towns were deluged by up to a month's worth of rain.
Murky water was waist deep inside houses in Whiston, near Sheffield, where belongings were floating inside artist Liz Churton's basement studio.
In Derbyshire, drivers abandoned cars that got stuck on flooded roads and firefighters were called in to rescue a man who was stranded inside his van in Killamarsh, DerbyshireLive reported.
There was travel chaos for drivers and rail passengers, with the railway between Todmorden and Rochdale blocked, while motorists in northern Scotland faced a fresh blanket of snow.
The Met Office has issued an amber 'danger to life' warning, saying up to 100mm of rain - a month's worth in some places - could fall in less than 24 hours.
There was severe flooding in Sheffield, where a river in Graves Park burst its banks, sending water rushing downhill onto the A61 Chesterfield Road.
A motorist in Newton Solney, Derbyshire, said after approaching a flooded road: “It’s terrible. I had to turn around to avoid the water because I only have a little car.
“I saw people going through the water, but they were hardly even slowing down, so the water was creating waves that were higher than their cars. I’m not risking my car like that.”
The Environment Agency had issued 26 flood warnings and 87 alerts for England as of Thursday afternoon.
Derbyshire Police wrote on Twitter: "This morning we have received reports from across the county of vehicles getting stuck as a result of trying to drive through flood water. (sic)
"As you can see, this has not ended well for some. Please do not attempt to drive through excessive amounts of water. You will get stuck."
An amber weather warning is in place for Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, and South and West Yorkshire until 6am on Friday.
The Met Office warned: "Persistent, heavy rain will affect the area during Thursday and much of Thursday night, before slowly dying out on Friday morning."
It said 40-60mm was expected to fall "quite widely" and up to 100mm was possible over high ground.
Separate yellow warnings were issued for the rest of Yorkshire, Cheshire, Merseyside, the East Midlands, parts of the North East and North West of England, and in North Wales.
Rain was expected to become heavy and persistent through the day.
The Met Office had warned in advance that flooding of buildings and roads was expected.
It said "prolonged and occasionally heavy" rain would continue into Friday morning.
The wet weather will be accompanied by "strengthening" north-easterly winds.
Severe weather hit as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was due take his election campaign to the North West, where some of the worst conditions were expected.
Up to 70mm was predicted for north-facing hills within the warning area in Wales, while up to 30mm is forecast elsewhere in the yellow warning area, the Met Office said.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: "There is a risk some places will see significant amounts of rain, particularly the higher ground of North Wales, the Pennines, the North York Moors and the Peak District."
A "bright and clear" day is forecast for London and South East England on Thursday, with showers becoming more frequent around dusk and temperatures reaching 11C, the Met Office said.
In the east of England, rain is due to push north on Thursday morning and will be followed by "sunny spells".
Temperatures are forecast to reach 9C.
The South West will experience showers throughout much of the day, particularly along the English Channel coastlines, the Met office said.
Meanwhile, rain is forecast for the West Midlands on Thursday, but it will push north throughout the afternoon and will be followed by drier weather in the evening.
Met Office five-day weather forecast
Thursday
Rain across northern England and north Wales, will be heavy at times with a risk of flooding.
Brighter elsewhere but with showers, heavy near coasts.
Windy in places coastal gales in parts of southwest and north-east England. Feeling cold.
Thursday night
Rain gradually easing across northern England and north Wales.
Clearer skies in south with areas of mist and fog developing by dawn.
Cold and frosty in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Friday
Rain slowly clearing away south, with mist and fog slow to clear.
Drier and brighter elsewhere with sunny spells during the afternoon.
Saturday to Monday
Cold with patchy fog early Saturday before rain, with hill snow in the north, spreads east, clearing south through Sunday.
Showers follow, ahead of further rain and hill snow Monday.
