THUNDERSTORMS could bring the heatwave to a close next week, the Met Office has said, with heavy rain, hail and “frequent lightning” possible.

A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms has been issued for Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and the rest of Dorset.

It will be in place between 6am and 11.59pm on Monday, August 15.

LIVE: Heatwave in Dorset - red alert for wildfires and 40 minute delays on A31

As much as 20mm to 30mm of rainfall could be seen in an hour with potential for flooding in some areas.

A Met Office spokesperson said: “Whilst some places will avoid them, thunderstorms are likely to develop increasingly widely as we go through Monday.

“Storms will probably already be underway for Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland by early Monday, before also developing across parts of England and Wales by late morning and into the afternoon. Storms should begin to ease from the west later.

“Very locally 20-30 mm of rain is possible in an hour, and up to around 50 mm in three to six hours. Hail and frequent lightning are also possible.”

Read more: RED ALERT: Highest fire severity warning issued over risk of blazes spreading

What to expect

  • There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds
  • Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services
  • Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
  • There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost

Read more: Stunning pictures of last supermoon of 2022 over Dorset

An amber weather warning for "extreme heat" is currently in force for Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and the wider Dorset area.

It will be in place until 11.59pm on Sunday.