And although the three official Days of Prayer for Rain in the State of Texas that Mr Perry proclaimed in April failed to elicit relief from on high, he might at any moment respond in the affirmative to his fellow mortals' calls to run.

ECONOMIST: Lexington

Amman has received 101 millimeters (4 inches) of rain over the past three days, whereas the January average for the entire month is only 63 millimeters, CNN forecaster Miller said.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

According to the island's Met Department, nearly three times as much rain fell in the first four days of December as in the whole of November.

BBC: Jersey water stocks improved by heavy rain

Heavy rain fall over the past three days has affected many areas of north Wales and the River Clywedog is reported to be swollen.

BBC: Wrexham river death: Police find second body

Meanwhile in Belgium three people have died in recent days after an estimated month's worth of rain fell in just two days in the Flanders area north of Brussels.

BBC: MEPs highlight floods in Europe