Thunderstorms are set to hit Dorset again on Sunday as heavy showers move through the area.

The Met Office is forecasting rain, thunder and lightning for midday and 1pm across the county.

The storm is due to arrive after a dry morning with temperatures around 16C.

Today, Saturday, we are set to see heavy rain around 6pm tonight.

Temperatures this weekend could hit 20C - unusually warm for this time of year.

The Met Office said the temperatures are “unusual but not exceptional” and there is some way to go before reaching the record high for October, which was 29.9C (85.82F) recorded in Gravesend on October 1 2011.

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said the above-average temperatures are the result of a jet stream, which normally comes across the Atlantic more directly, taking a big loop down south and then coming back up and bringing all the southerly air with it.

The maximum average temperature in October in southern England is 14C or 15C, but places are seeing potential highs of early 20s over the next couple of days.

Bournemouth Echo: Bournemouth seafrontBournemouth seafront (Image: Newsquest)

Forecasters expect temperatures to come down slightly on Sunday.

Speaking about the above-average temperatures, Mr Madge said: “It’s unusual but not exceptional. It’s perhaps slightly more unusual as well in that it has been a prolonged weather pattern.

“The weather pattern that’s bringing us this flow of warm air has been quite stubborn and persistent.

Read more: “Rare during the winter months”: Why it’s so warm today and the weekend forecast

“And we’ve been in this pattern for a number of days. It’s led some people to suggest that it’s an Indian summer, but we’re not agreeing with that.

“Traditionally an Indian summer would be where you get sunshine and still dry conditions, and obviously we’ve had quite a lot of wind.

“It’s only the temperatures that are warmer than average.”