A TORNADO warning has been issued for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) has issued the warning for south England, south Wales, parts of the Midlands, East Anglia and the Channel Islands.

The organisation said possible hazards include ‘isolated brief tornadoes’, along with ‘wind gusts to 50-60mph’, hail and ‘isolated CG lightning’.

It said the highest chance of gusts and isolated tornadoes are over ‘parts of central southern England’.

TORRO said on its website: “Overnight, parts of Wales will have one or two lines of showery rain, and then later tonight and on Thursday, another area of showery rain, with lines/possible cells, will cross parts of central and southern England.

“Both of these sets of showery rain may bring squally gusts, and the small chance of one or two brief tornadoes - the highest chance of gusts and isolated tornadoes appears to be over parts of Central Southern England, the SE Midlands, E Anglia, and SE England later on Thursday morning and into Thursday afternoon.”

The forecast was in place from 1am this morning, Thursday, February 22, until 4pm this afternoon.