Get your brollies and rain macs at the ready as the Met Office has issued a warning of heavy rain for later today.

The yellow alert, which means 'be aware', is valid for Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole from 2pm until 10pm.

The warning reads:  "Scattered heavy and locally thundery downpours are likely to develop across parts of southern England, the south Midlands and southeast Wales this afternoon, only slowly easing this evening. 

"The public should be aware of the risk of surface water flooding."

The Chief Forecaster said: A deeply unstable airmass is likely to affect southwest Britain later today associated with a slack area of low pressure over the English Channel.

"Some locally intense downpours are likely to develop giving 15 mm in less than an hour, and some 30 mm in 3 hours or less. 

"It looks as if the greater risk is across Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.  However, as often happens in these situations, rainfall amounts could vary markedly, with some areas missing the worst."

In the event of thunder and lightning today, you can send your weather pictures to us at digital@bournemouthecho.co.uk, text them to 80360, starting your message with BE, or fill in the Send Your News form

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