THE Met Office has issued a new weather warning of thunderstorms for Dorset today.

The yellow weather alert is in force from 12pm until 9pm and covers the whole of the county.

Another warning has been issued for Thursday for “slow moving showers and thunderstorms” for Bournemouth, Poole and the rest of Dorset.

Today up to 35mm of rain could fall in just an hour, the Met Office has warned, with a chance of 50mm of rainfall in some places.

While tomorrow could see some “locally torrential downpours” with potential for 20 to 30mm of rainfall in an hour or 40 to 50mm in two to three hours. There is also the chance of lightning.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “Slow-moving heavy showers and thunderstorms will break out across many parts of the UK again on Wednesday afternoon.

"Some places will miss them, but where they do occur they will bring torrential downpours with 25 to 35 mm rain falling in an hour and perhaps 50 mm in 2 to 3 hours in one or two places. Lightning and hail will be additional hazards. These showers and thunderstorms will only slowly die out through the evening.”

The Met Office says there is a “small chance” homes and businesses could be flooded with potential for damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.

The weather service said: "There is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life”.

Public transport could also be disrupted with motorists warned to expect spray or flooding on the roads.

There is also potential power cuts could occur.