Thunderstorms and heavy rain hit Dorset overnight with flood warnings issued for the area.

A yellow 'be aware' alert was issued by the Met Office and is valid from 9pm on Sunday until 9am on Monday morning.

Bournemouth Echo:

Map shows rainfall (0.5-1mm) expected at 9pm on Sunday night

The warning, which is for Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole, says: "Bands of heavy showers will affect parts of southern Britain throughout Sunday and Sunday night, some places affected more than others.

"The main focus continues to be on the period later this evening, overnight and at first on Monday morning, before the heaviest showers clear the eastern edge of the warning area, into the North Sea.

"The warning has been updated to bring the start time slightly forward, and to extend the area west across much of Dorset, as well as further north across central parts of southern England.

"Whilst some areas will miss the heaviest rain, given the saturated ground, please be aware of the potential for surface water flooding causing localised disruption to travel."

A spokesperson said: "A fairly organised band of heavy showers and the odd thunderstorm, looks like feeding along the English Channel later on Sunday, and then increasingly into parts of southern England as the flow backs more southerly overnight and at first on Monday.

"Five to 10 mm may fall within an hour and perhaps 20-30 mm through the period in a few spots."

"The focus has shifted a little westwards, and it's not impossible that a further update might be needed later on Sunday or overnight."

Hail showers took place across Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch yesterday, with a thunderstorm overnight.

 

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— wimbo242 (@wimbo242) January 10, 2016

 


 

 

 

This week will see overnight temperatures drop to 0C with it feeling no warmer than 1C during the day on Tuesday.

It will feel slightly warmer on Wednesday before tempertures dip once again.

Some forecasters tentatively predicted snow showers for Thursday night in Dorset.

However, although it will be chilly, there is no sign at this stage of any snow in the forecast. 

On Sunday morning, the Environment Agency issued a number of flood alerts and warnings for Dorset following Saturday's heavy rain. 

A red flood alert - which means flooding is expected, immediate action is required - is in place for the River Frome.

It says: "River levels in this area can be expected to remain high for several days. Further showers are forecast over the next few days and we will continue to monitor the situation and provide an update if anything changes.

The river measuring station at East Stoke recorded water levels of 1.6m on Saturday morning. Normal range is up to 1.42, although the highest recorded was 1.93m.

A flood warning is also in force for Lower Avon and Tributaries  says: "River levels remain high and further showers are expected over the next few days. 

"We will continue to monitor the situation and provide an update should anything change."

There is also groundwater flooding in the Cranborne Chase area, with the Environment Agency expecting the amber alert to remain in force for "at least the next week".

The alert says: "Groundwater levels across Cranborne Chase are generally rising following the heavy rain at the beginning of January."

Flood warnings for Christchurch Harbour were in force on Sunday morning but have now been removed.