STORMS could bring an end to the heat wave next week, the Met Office has said, with the possibility of heavy rain, hail and “frequent lightning”.
A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms has been issued for Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and the rest of Dorset.
It will be in operation between 6am and 11.59pm on Monday 15 August.
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Between 20 and 30mm of rain could be seen in one hour with the potential for flooding in some areas.
A Met Office spokesman said: “Although some places will avoid them, the storms are likely to develop more widely as we move into Monday.
“Storms are likely to be underway for Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland early on Monday, before also developing across parts of England and Wales in the late morning and afternoon. The storms they should start easing from the west later.
“Very locally, 20-30mm of rain is possible within an hour, and up to around 50mm within three to six hours. Hail and frequent lightning are also possible.”
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what to expect
- There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with some buildings damaged by flooding, lightning, hail or strong winds.
- When flooding or lightning occurs, there is a possibility of delays and some cancellations of train and bus services
- Showers and flash flooding may cause difficult driving conditions and some road closures
- There is a slight chance of power outages and loss of other services to some homes and businesses
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An amber weather warning for ‘extreme heat’ is currently in place for Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and the wider Dorset area.
It will be valid until 23.59 on Sunday.