A WEATHER warning has been issued for tonight, with forecasts of heavy and possibly severe thunderstorms.

The Met Office has published the warning today, saying that "the public should be aware that there is a chance of some very localised significant disruption."

Isolated heavy, and possibly severe, thunderstorms are expected to develop on Friday evening across parts of southern and southwest England, before moving north across the country.

The chief forecaster said: "On Friday evening another hot and increasingly humid airmass is expected to spread northwards from the continent.

"This airmass looks conducive to the development of isolated thunderstorms during the evening across southern and southwest England which are likely to become more frequent overnight as they spread northwards towards Scotland.

"With large amounts of energy again available in this atmosphere storms could be severe, with torrential downpours, hail and squally gusts of wind. 30 mm of rain is possible in less than an hour, with as much as 50mm possible in 3 hours very locally.

"Large uncertainty remains regarding areas most at risk from storms, and many areas will miss these altogether, staying largely dry. However, where they do develop, disruption is possible."