The West has been lashed by torrential rain and gale-force winds as the first major storm of the autumn caused widespread chaos.

Heavy and persistent rain in the region caused some localised flooding yesterday and further flood warnings were in place last night.

In Gloucestershire, heavy rain caused chaos on the roads and forced the closure of five schools in the region.

On Thursday, Robinswood Primary School in Gloucester was shut because the rear playground and school playing field were waterlogged. Yesterday, Bromsberrow St Mary's C of E Primary School, Minsterworth School, Yorkley School, and Parkend Primary School also closed because of weather-related problems.

Gloucestershire County Council advised that roads affected by flooding included several sections of the A48 between Blakeney and Gloucester, Oakle Street, Bully Street, near Tibberton, Two Mile Lane, Highnam and Green Lane in Hucclecote.

There was running water at Staverton, standing water in some areas around Berkeley and Bromsberrow, and problems at Tredworth Bridge and the bridge near St Oswalds Retail Park.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service has been helping to pump out water from streams near Cromwell Road, Cheltenham and Cypress Gardens, Longlevens, to prevent flooding.

Flood watches were put in place on the River Evenlode at Moreton-in-Marsh, on the River Windrush at Bourton-on-the-Water, and on all waterways in the Forest of Dean.

Gloucestershire police urged calm, saying recent forecasts showed a low probability of major flooding problems.

However, as a precaution, members of Gloucestershire's Local Resilience Forum (LRF), which includes the police, the fire and rescue service, the ambulance service and the county council, met yesterday.

Assistant Chief Constable Mick Matthews said: "We have spoken in detail with our colleagues in the Met Office and the Environment Agency and, as a result of our discussions, the emergency services are not anticipating the kind of rise in water levels that we had in the county in July 2007."

Showers and strong winds whipped Somerset yesterday with more than 40mm of rain falling on Exmoor in 24 hours and gales reaching 60mph. Trees were flattened by the storms and roads became blocked by debris and water.

The A38 at the Blackbird Inn on the outskirts of Wellington was almost completely waterlogged for most of the day, causing traffic tailbacks during rush hour.

Fire crews in Taunton were on hand to help a man who had become stranded in a stream outside the fire station. Firefighters came to the man's aid after he had lost control of his car and plummeted into the waterway at 9.10am yesterday.

The Environment Agency issued flood watches across Exmoor and over the Devon border at the Upper Exe river from Exford to Exebridge, the rivers Barle, Lyn, Mole, Bray and their tributaries, and coastal streams from Combe Martin to Lynton.

Residents across the county were urged to make sure they have their own personal flood plans in place in the event of an emergency. The agency's civil contingencies manager for Somerset, Nicola Dawson, said: "Family and community flood plans should be put into practice.

"The district and the county council will have emergency contingency plans as will the emergency services. But the idea is, in an emergency you should be able to help yourself first and rely on support after."

Meanwhile, postwoman Elizabeth Brain did not let yesterday's torrential rain get in the way of her gruelling five-hour round – despite much of her route being flooded.

The 23-year-old put on her wellies and bright orange Royal Mail waterproof to get the post through to her customers in Westbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire.

Ms Brain, from Cinderford, said she never once thought of turning back and managed to deliver to all but three of the 320 houses on her round.

She said: "When I looked at the weather reports this morning I knew it was going to be a tough day. But you just have to get on with it, get the job done and get home.

"All of us postwomen and men are exceptional because we do it in all weathers – even in the snow.

"I've been doing this job for five years so I'm hardened to it. I really enjoy it – I couldn't be stuck in an office.

"There were a couple of roads under water and a couple of houses I couldn't get to because of the flooding.

"At one point I was going a bit too fast and it was coming over the top of my wellies.

"Luckily, my very flattering coat keeps me dry, and I'll be back out there tomorrow."

The Environment Agency last night warned those living between Hereford and Ross-on-Wye to prepare for the worse and move their belongings to safety after the river started to rise rapidly.

There were fears the river was about to break its banks at Sellack and villagers at Hampton Bishop were being warned to keep a careful watch on river levels overnight.

The river Lugg and Wye were already unseasonally high when the torrential rain arrived to swell them both.

Now locals face a nervous few days as the heavy rain that has fallen on Wales over the past few days works its way down rivers Wye and Severn towards the Bristol Channel.

The rain caused problems on roads across Monmouthshire and Herefordshire with motorists struggling through surface water.

Lower Bullingham Lane in Hereford was closed by flooding, there was over two feet of water and motorists were warned to move their cars from the Merton Meadows car park as it started to fill with water.

Richard Ball, Herefordshire Council's acting head of highways, said: "Drivers need to be aware there may be hidden dangers lurking under surface water and I would urge them to reduce their speed and drive according to the conditions."

Firefighters warned motorists who regularly use fords as short cuts not to do so over the next few days because they are in danger of becoming raging torrents.

Rockfield Road in Monmouth was closed by flooding and Gellyfelen on Llanelly Hill became impassable after a landslide.

Many events have been scaled down or cancelled because of the weather and two of the biggest casualties are the Usk agricultural show in Monmouthshire and the Early Medieval Alliance camp at Caldicot Castle.

Just over the Herefordshire border, a woman and child were rescued from a flooded car in Tenbury Wells.

In Bristol, plans to create a four-tonne ice replica of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge were scrapped due to the persistent rain. Today's weather in the West is expected to be largely cloudy with showers and longer spells of rain in the morning and early afternoon. Later it is predicted to be drier and brighter, with maximum temperatures of 18C.

The outlook for tomorrow is largely dry with isolated showers, while Monday will be dry and bright in the morning, with cloud and rain in the afternoon. Tuesday is expected to be wet with widespread, heavy rain.