Very heavy rainfall - — spanning 5 – 15 hours — - is rare in the south-west . Such incidences include the Lynmouth disaster of 15 August 1952 , caused by of rainfall falling locally on Exmoor over 12 hours . Also , on 8 June 1957 , fell at Camelford , Cornwall and in June 1917 , fell in 13 hours in Bruton , Somerset . The north-Cornish village of Boscastle was flooded on 16 August 2004 ; a peak hourly rainfall of was recorded . Approximately 100 people had to be rescued by helicopter and 116 cars were swept out to sea
flooded
Boscastle flood of 2004
Climate of south-west England