HEAVY rain is set to sweep across Dorset tonight and tomorrow, with a risk of up to 40mm expected in some places.

The Met Office has issued a ‘yellow’ warning for rain, which means people should be prepared for severe weather.

The warning, which is valid until 11.45pm this evening, says: “Frequent showers, some heavy, will bring a further 10-15 mm and locally up to 25 mm rain to parts of southern England later on Monday and into Tuesday. There is the risk of up to 40 mm of rain on the high ground of southwest England.

“The public should be aware of the potential for disruption due to localised flooding, especially where the ground is already saturated.”

The chief forecaster at the Met Office said: “A very unsettled start to this week is expected as an area of low pressure moves slowly southwards across Britain to most likely be centred over the Irish Sea by the end of Tuesday.

“Bands of heavy showers forming on the southern flank of this area of low pressure will stream across much of southern England.”

Although temperatures are predicted to reach 8 degrees today, it will feel more like 3 degrees.