The Met Office is warning of gales, heavy rain and even the risk of disruption to power supplies later this week - with the potential for sleet or snow over the North Dorset hills.

A yellow ‘be aware’ warning for wind issued for overnight on Thursday until 6pm on Friday has been updated by the Met Office today and is now valid from 12.10am until 12pm on Friday. 

The alert, which covers Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole, says: “There is the potential for gales, or local severe gales, to develop across much of England and Wales during the first half of Friday, before easing by early afternoon.

"A band of heavy rain will accompany the low pressure system, this pushing quickly east through the day. The public should be aware of the risk of disruption to travel and perhaps power supplies.

A spokesperson said: "An area of low pressure has the potential to develop in the mid-Atlantic and then run quickly east northeast across the northern half of the UK during the first half of Friday.

"To the south of this low pressure centre, gales, or severe gales are likely to develop, with gusts in excess of 50 mph quite widely in the warning area. Gusts of 60-70 mph may develop in exposure, especially along Irish Sea and English Channel coasts.

"A period of heavy rain may also make for tricky driving conditions at times, especially across south Wales and southern England."

Local weather forecaster Jim Smith said: “Lately there's been a pattern of waves of warmer and colder air coming through. A cold front could introduce sleety snow for the hills and back edge of Dorset.”

But he added that he did not expect to see any disruption from the forecast gales.

Last night, gritting lorries were sent out at 8pm to treat the main commuter routes in Bournemouth and Poole for ice, as temperatures dropped overnight. Many motorists had to de-ice their cars this morning as temperatures dipped to their lowest so far this winter.