Storm Desmond broke the United Kingdom 's 24-hour rainfall record , with 341.4 mm of rain falling at Honister Pass , Cumbria , on 5 December . The previous record was set in 2009 , also in Cumbria , when 316.4 mm of rain fell in Seathwaite . The highest standard 0900 GMT – 0900 GMT rain day record , however , remains 279 mm at Martinstown , Dorset set on 18 July 1955 . Much of the historical data is recorded in this way . The 48‑hour rainfall record was also beaten , with Thirlmere reporting 405 mm of rain falling up to 0800 GMT on 6 December 2015 , compared to the previous record of 395.6 mm on 18 – 19 November 2009 at Seathwaite . Desmond created an atmospheric river in its wake , bringing in moist air from the Caribbean to the British Isles . As a result , rainfall from Desmond was unusually heavy , with the Norwegian Meteorological Institute designating Desmond an extreme weather event as a result of the amount of rain that fell
in 2009
2009 Great Britain and Ireland floods
2015–16 Great Britain and Ireland floods