THUNDER, “frequent lightning” and heavy rain could be seen across Dorset later today.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for parts of the country, including Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and the rest of Dorset.

The warning will be in force between 7pm on Wednesday night and 3am on Thursday.

As much as 25mm of rainfall could be recorded in an hour with the chance of 40mm of rain in two or three hours in some places, the Met Office said.

Read more: IN PICTURES: 'Almost 4,000 lightning strikes' in Dorset during dramatic storm

A Met Office spokesperson said: “Developing showers and thunderstorms are likely to intensify across parts of the warning area through the evening, before easing away eastwards after midnight. Quite a lot of places will probably avoid the heaviest rain and thunder, but others could experience torrential downpours and frequent lightning, while large hail and strong wind gusts may also affect a few places.

Bournemouth Echo:

“Central parts of southern England are perhaps most likely to see impacts. Rainfall amounts will be highly variable, as is usual in such situations, but the wettest spots perhaps seeing around 25 mm of rain inside an hour, and a possibility that somewhere could catch over 40 mm in 2 or 3 hours.”

Read more: 10 pictures of last night's amazing sunset and rainbow over Dorset

In terms of what to expect, the Met Office says: 

  • Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
  • Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services, as well as possible power cuts
  • There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, with damage due to floodwater or lightning strikes.

It comes just days after more than 4,000 lightning strikes were recorded in Dorset in just a few hours on Sunday night.

Dorset residents captured the dramatic scenes on camera.

The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning ahead of the major storm.