The Met Office issued a severe weather warning for Bristol and the South West after a quarter of September's average rainfall fell in just 24 hours.

The city was lashed by heavy downpours for much of yesterday, with 25mm (1in) of rain falling in three hours. The usual amount for the whole month is 105mm (4ins).

The extreme weather is set to continue over the weekend and into next week, and has forced the cancellation of a number of social events.

Plans to build a 26ft-long ice sculpture of the Clifton Suspension Bridge in the city centre were postponed until next Friday after it was decided that the lifespan of the work and the number of visitors would be affected by the rain.

The weather also caused traffic problems across the region.

The Environment Agency said there had been no reports of river flooding in the area, but widespread road flooding across Bristol made life difficult for drivers.

First Great Western train services from Bristol Parkway to London were disrupted because of flooding between Cardiff and Bridgend. Adrian Booth, from FGW, said: "The flooding forced trains to run hourly rather than half-hourly, meaning they were a lot more crowded than usual."

The Highways Agency said the bad weather combined with roadworks on the Avonmouth Bridge to create long queues.

Drivers using the M5 over the bridge last night were reporting delays of up to two hours, and neighbouring roads including the A370 between Bristol and Weston were also jammed.

Sarah Holland, a spokeswoman for the Met Office, said: "The severe weather warning was extended yesterday to 10pm after forecasts of heavy showers and thunder storms.

"Between midnight and 2pm there was 13.2mm of rain recorded at Filton, and more than a quarter of the whole of September's usual rainfall fell in just 24 hours.

"We aren't expecting another severe weather warning over the weekend, but it isn't going to be good."

The heavy rain this month has come on the back of the eighth wettest August on record for the South West, when 156.9mm of rain fell.

August was also a dull month, with only 122.8 hours of sun – just 64 per cent of the monthly average.

The poor summer has affected businesses across the city. Henleaze Garden Shop has seen sales plummet. Manager Mike Baker said: "When the sun is shining we get the customers out. But with the recent torrential rain, people have held back and aren't going into their gardens.

"The last month is one of the worst months we've ever had for sales, and I've been here for 47 years. Yesterday was the worst of all."

But the bad weather has not spelled disaster for every retailer.

Marcruss Camping, in Hotwells, has seen sales of Wellington boots soar, and has just taken an extra delivery to cope with demand.

Adrian Hudson, manager of the camping department, said: "Sales have been excellent despite the weather, and sales of wellies and ponchos are up.

"Lots of camping gear is being sold, and people are still getting into it."

He added: "People are going out in adverse weather conditions with family tents and coming back with damaged poles and canvas wanting their money back, but they weren't made for weather like this."

Today there are expected to be further heavy showers, with temperatures peaking at 18°C (64.4°F).

Tomorrow should see brighter weather, with light showers clearing later.

The outlook for next week is cloud and rain, heavy and thundery, with strong winds in western areas.