STORM Alex is set to bring what could be “one of the worst weekends of weather of all time in Dorset”.

Bournemouth-based weather enthusiast Dorset Snow has warned of “absolutely relentless” rain between Friday morning and Sunday afternoon.

The forecaster said: “The rain will be absolutely relentless from Friday morning-Sunday afternoon. A secondary low looks likely to stall around southern England on Saturday evening and give us some problems. Models have between 80-120mm falling by the end of play on Sunday. Dorset at the epicentre."

The heavy rain will be accompanied by strong winds which he said are “unlikely to exceed 55mph and will be much lighter inland.”

He said that the rain will be the “major risk factor” this weekend.

Dorset Snow added: “The strongest winds are likely to be felt early on Friday morning along coastal areas. This is when Storm Alex moves closest to our shores.”

Storm Alex has been named by the French national meteorological service, Météo-France.

The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for heavy rain and strong winds for the whole of Dorset between 3am and 8pm on Friday.

However, this has since been extended into the weekend with a yellow warning of rain now in force between 3am on Saturday until 6pm on Sunday.

The Met Office said: “Heavy rain will push north and west across the UK, clearing from much of southeast England by Saturday afternoon. However, it is expected to remain heavy and persistent throughout Saturday and into mid-Sunday across eastern Scotland, the far northeast of England, much of Wales, and southwest England. This is likely to bring flooding and some disruption to travel.

“Many places will see 25-50 mm of rainfall, with totals of 100-125 mm expected over the high ground of eastern Scotland, and perhaps parts of Wales and southwest England. The unusual wind direction associated with the rainfall will mean that the peak rainfall totals are likely to occur in some areas that are usually well sheltered and direr during unsettled spells of weather. During Sunday the rain will turn more showery in nature and become significantly less widespread.”