The Environment Agency issued 52 of its most serious alerts - signifying imminent danger to life and property - along with more than 250 lesser alert levels.
The warnings affect 33 rivers, but North Yorkshire is regarded as the worst hit.
In York and Stafford in the North and in Guildford in Surrey in the South police urged all urged motorists not to try to drive into the city and town centres.
The Environment Agency has warned the situation could worsen over the next two days in York and other Yorkshire towns.
Persistent driving rain is forecast for much of northern Britain on Tuesday, with the worst weather concentrated over Northern Ireland and Scotland before spreading into northern England.
(dpa)