STORMY weather is set to bring more chaos to Dorset and the New Forest this week.

Strong winds with gusts up to 80mph have been forecast for Tuesday night and Wednesday morning with more heavy rain set to make conditions worse in areas already flooded.

Residents of Iford Bridge Home Park will attend a meeting this evening to discuss flooding with Bournemouth council emergency services and representatives from agencies.

The Sandbanks Ferry this morning

This morning services on the Sandbanks ferry was suspended due to the weather conditions. Service resumed at 1.10pm. 

The Met Office has issued a 'yellow' warning for heavy rain and strong winds, which is valid from 6pm on Tuesday until 11pm on Wednesday.

The warning says: "Heavy rain and very strong winds will move northwards across the UK from Tuesday evening onwards through much of Wednesday. This could bring widespread rainfall accumulations of 20-30 mm across many southern and some central parts of England and Wales as well as eastern parts of Northern Ireland, with in excess of 40 mm in some spots.

"Accompanying this, very strong winds are likely with gusts of 60-70 mph likely, mainly along exposed coasts, and perhaps even 80 mph along some coastlines in the southwest.

"The public should be aware of the risk of disruption from flooding given the rain falling onto saturated ground. Strong winds may cause some damage, with disruption due to fallen trees particularly likely. With large waves and high tides, there is a further risk of flooding in some coastal areas."

High waves at Mudeford this morning

And forecasters have warned there is no end in sight to the wet and windy weather.

Last month was officially the wettest January on record and February looks set to continue the trend.

Over the weekend a number of coastal areas were flooded including Branksome Chine, Christchurch and Mudeford Quays and parts of the A35 near the Bakers Arms.

A police officer had to be rescued after his patrol car became stuck in flood water in Derritt Lane in Bransgore.

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