Two “danger to life” flood warnings have been issued as the UK’s longest river approaches its highest level in 20 years following weeks of heavy rain.

More deluges are forecast over the next 48 hours, further swelling the Severn after recent downpours during Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis.

The Environment Agency said the river - which stretches from stretching from Wales to Gloucester - would peak on Tuesday evening but warned that flooding could continue until the weekend.

A total of 112 flood warnings - two of them severe, meaning lives are at risk - and 201 alerts were in force across England on Monday night, along with 12 flood warnings and 23 alerts in Wales.

Caroline Douglass, director of incident management at the EA, said: “River levels remain high and communities along the river Severn, in particular Shrewsbury, Bewdley and Ironbridge, should be ready for potential flooding.

“Groundwater levels across parts of Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Sussex are continuing to rise and will lead to more flooding impacts later in the week.

Storm Dennis in pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Storm Dennis in pictures Storm Dennis in pictures Flood water surrounds Upton upon Severn in Worcestershire. Severe flood warnings remain in place in the wake of Storm Dennis, with more rain expected to fall in the week PA Storm Dennis in pictures A husky and its owner are rescued by emergency services after flooding in Nantgarw, Wales after Storm Dennis hit the UK PA Storm Dennis in pictures Waves crash against the harbour wall in Isle of Whithorn Getty Storm Dennis in pictures An employee cleans a nail salon on Market street in Pontypridd after Storm Dennis hits the UK leading to widespread flooding PA Storm Dennis in pictures Flooding from the River Wye Getty Storm Dennis in pictures Laura Court and Louise Bedgood mop up the floor of Lougos hair dressers in Oxford Street, Nantgarw EPA Storm Dennis in pictures A Land Rover wades through flooded roads in the Wye Valley, near the hamlet of Wellesley in Hereford Getty Storm Dennis in pictures A rainbow appears over flooded fields in the Wye Valley Getty Storm Dennis in pictures A firefighter carries a dog to safety as part of ongoing rescue operations due to flooding in Nantgarw PA Storm Dennis in pictures Two men cleaning up the street in Pontypridd PA Storm Dennis in pictures Rescue operations continue after flooding in Nantgarw PA Storm Dennis in pictures Flood water surrounds Upton upon Severn PA Storm Dennis in pictures Members of the public start the clean up following flooding from storm Dennis in Newcastleton, Scotland Getty Images Storm Dennis in pictures Local residents remain cheerful as walk through receding floodwater in Mountain Ash, Wales PA Storm Dennis in pictures A car trapped by debris carried by floodwater, on the road outside the Aberdare Hotel in Mountain Ash, Wales PA Storm Dennis in pictures Flood water surrounds Upton upon Severn PA Storm Dennis in pictures Flood water surrounds abandoned cars left in a flooded street in Tenbury Wells, after the River Teme burst its banks in western England AFP via Getty Storm Dennis in pictures A man rescues a floating plant pot from flood water, outside of a flood-bound house in Tenbury Wells AFP via Getty Storm Dennis in pictures Items float in flood water inside a flooded charity shop in Tenbury Wells AFP via Getty Storm Dennis in pictures Flood damage in Bridge Street, Crickhowell, South Wales Reuters Storm Dennis in pictures A digger is used to clear debris, carried by floodwater, from the road outside the Aberdare Hotel PA Storm Dennis in pictures Flood water surrounds abandoned cars left in a flooded street in Tenbury Wells AFP via Getty Storm Dennis in pictures An Environmental Agency Officer gives a briefing as the River Ouse in York continues to rise potentially causing further flooding as Storm Dennis causes disruption across the country Getty Storm Dennis in pictures A man walks through a flooded convenience store in Tenbury Wells AFP via Getty Storm Dennis in pictures Flood water surrounds abandoned cars left in a flooded street in Tenbury Wells AFP via Getty Storm Dennis in pictures Employees of York City Council use sand bags to increase flood defences Getty Storm Dennis in pictures A van is driven through standing water on a road in Tenbury Wells AFP via Getty Storm Dennis in pictures A footbridge in Pontypridd is blocked by debris after Storm Dennis hit the UK PA Storm Dennis in pictures Waves crash over the lighthouse at Porthcawl, South Wales Reuters Storm Dennis in pictures Members of the 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland erect flood barricades in Ilkley, West Yorkshire AFP via Getty Storm Dennis in pictures Bricks and debris cover damaged cars after part of a building collapsed in Herne Bay AFP via Getty Images Storm Dennis in pictures An empty coach sits abandoned in flood water after the River Teme burst its banks near Lindridge AFP via Getty Images Storm Dennis in pictures Standing water on a road in Tenbury Wells AFP via Getty Storm Dennis in pictures A firefighter carries a dog to safety as part of ongoing rescue operations due to flooding in Nantgarw PA Storm Dennis in pictures A rescue boat is lifted from the water by Mountain Rescue crews after a river patrol on the River Ouse in York Getty Images Storm Dennis in pictures Flood water surrounds grave stones in a graveyard in Tenbury Wells AFP via Getty Images Storm Dennis in pictures One-year-old Blake is carried by a rescue worker as emergency services continue to take families to safety PA Storm Dennis in pictures A dog and its owner are rescued by emergency services after flooding in Nantgarw PA Storm Dennis in pictures A car passes over Teston Bridge near Maidstone in Kent PA Storm Dennis in pictures An aerial view of the Welsh village of Crickhowell which has been cut off Getty Images

“We have seen our third weekend of exceptional river levels and stormy weather; with the effects of climate change, we need to prepare for more frequent periods of extreme weather like this.

“People need to be aware of their flood risk, sign up to flood warnings, make a flood plan and not to drive or walk through flood water.”

England has had more than 141 per cent of its average rainfall for February so far this month and gauges on 15 rivers have recorded their highest ever water levels, including the Colne, Ribble, Calder, Aire, Trent, Severn, Wye, Lugg and Derwent.

Head of the Environment Agency, Sir James Bevan, warned people living in flood-prone areas may have to abandon their homes for good.

“In a few places the scale of coastal erosion and the risk of flooding from rivers or the sea will become so big that it may be better for communities to choose to relocate out of harm’s way,” he said.

Meanwhile, Downing Street has defended prime minister Boris Johnson’s continued absence from flooded areas, with officials insisting it was important not to “distract” from the ongoing effort to deal with the problem.

Environment secretary George Eustice is leading the government’s response, which has seen 1,000 staff operating flood defences and pumps, clearing debris and reparing damaged defences every day.

Some 3.7 miles of temporary flood barriers have been erected and flood defences have protected more than 25,000 properties, according to the Environment Agency.

Mr Eustice told MPs that 1,400 homes in England had been flooded but claimed recent improvements to flood defence schemes had reduced the number affected.

The Met Office has forecast a week of widespread showery weather, while a warning for ice covering Scotland, Northern Ireland and much of northern England, remains in force until 10am on Tuesday.