IN PICTURES: Spectacular lightning storm heralds week of unsettled weather

Picture by David White, taken from Moore Avenue

A yellow warning of rain has been issued for tomorrow and Wednesday with storms expected to sweep in from the west.

@Bournemouthecho lightning over Baiter tonight #thunderstorm pic.twitter.com/OVtPFPXZKB

— Scott Bishop (@oOScottyBOo) July 21, 2013

Picture by Chris Steele

The Met Office says an area of low pressure will meet hot, humid air across parts of southern Britain, providing the "ingredients for more widespread and energetic storms."

@Bournemouthecho just took this photo in broadstone! pic.twitter.com/tIq8n1Rb28

— Stuart Jared. (@Stu_McAllister) July 21, 2013

Picture by Jon Portnow

Forcasters are predicting as much as 50 mm rain in 3 hours, leading the possibility of flooding locally, with hail and gusty winds also possible.

Miss the storm last night over #Poole #Bournemouth ? Here's a pic of what you missed pic.twitter.com/ifwOiE50hU

— Andy Lyons (@fazanders) July 22, 2013

Terry Harwood was talking with neighbours in Tweedale Road, Charminster, at around 10.30pm last night when a powerful gust of wind blew out of nowhere, tumbling garden furniture and slamming windows and forcing him to hold onto the gate to steady himself.

Picture by Sarah Critchley

“It was downright eerie,” said Mr Harwood, 51, who reckoned the wind speed was more than 50mph based on his experience as a biker.

“The sky suddenly turned orange and was filled with rushing swirling cloud, with pink lightning, and this huge gust of wind came out of nowhere and slammed all the windows.

“It was like being on the surface of Mars, or in a horror film. I have never seen anything like it in this country, it was like a tornado.”

Picture by Jackie Radwanski, taken in Ferndown

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