THUNDERSTORMS and heavy rain could cause disruption later this week, the Met Office has warned.

A yellow weather warning has been issued for Hampshire from 12pm until 9pm on Thursday. The alert covers Southampton, Portsmouth and the rest of the county.

Some places could see between 20 to 30mm of rain in an hour, the Met Office has said, with the “potential for 40 to 50mm in two or three hours” in some places.

The weather service said lightning could be an “additional hazard.”

There is a “small chance” that homes and businesses could be flooded, and fast flowing or deep floodwater could cause danger to life.

Public transport could also be affected with motorists warned spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.

There is also a “slight chance” power cuts could occur.