From drought to flood warnings in one week "The Environment Agency has said they can supply us with sandbags and the blue floodgates but we have to pay for the floodgates, and we have to go and pick up the sandbags," the mother of one said. It's crazy - how can there be a drought if there is this much water? We're keeping our fingers crossed because we live at the bottom of a valley. Lynn Thurgate, owner of the Tumbling Weir Hotel in Ottery St Mary, said: "We had advice from the Environment Agency to move things to upper levels. We have had an awful lot of rain - it has rained solidly. The Environment Agency sent through a series of automated telephone warnings about the flooding yesterday morning to people in the area. The risk of flooding is made worse because parts of England are in the midst of one of the worst droughts since records began. The hard ground means that water is likely to rush off instead of sinking in. The south west of England and the Midlands have been officially classed as in drought since April 16, joining East Anglia, the South East, and south and east Yorkshire. Meteorologists warn that after 18 months of dry weather only prolonged periods of rain will succeed in replenishing groundwater levels. A spokesman for the Met Office said: "The rain will be accompanied by strong and gusty winds and, on higher hills and mountains, significant and heavy falls of snow will occur. Sunshine and heavy showers, particularly across the Midlands and Yorkshire. Sunny spells and scattered showers, lighter than Thursday. Max: 55.4F (13C) Min: 39.2F (4C) Saturday Dry across the North but cloudy in the South with some showers and wind picking up. Dry across the North but cloudy in the South with some showers and wind picking up. Sunday Potential for gales and showers still lingering. Monday Breezy showers in eastern areas but a drier day for some parts.