AFTER a mostly clear morning, heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast across Dorset.

The Met Office has said it will be cloudy across to the west of the county for most of the day until 5pm this evening when heavy rain is expected followed by thunder (6pm) with a maximum temperature of 17°C.

For east Dorset, the weather forecaster has predicted patches of thunderstorms throughout the afternoon from 1pm until 5pm - and into the evening from 8pm until 9pm.

Rain is expected to be heavy at times across the county and will gradually clear eastwards with sunny spells and scattered showers following with a maximum temperature of 17 °C.

From 7pm to 9pm tonight, heavy rain is expected to continue across Dorset followed by the odd shower leaving a mostly dry night with clear spells - bringing a minimum temperature of 9 °C.

Tomorrow, the weather forecaster said the county will experience a mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers. Showers becoming fewer and further between for the afternoon with a maximum temperature 15 °C.