Meridian Met Office

Hotter than Greece or Turkey - the South roasted today on the hottest September day for 100 years. It was so hot that health officials issued safety warnings for the young, the old and the unwell.

Hundreds of sunseekers flocked to beaches and parks to savour the Indian Summer.

But powercuts affected up to 4,000 homes in Bournemouth. Christine Alsford reports.

People living across the South East are being warned about possible flooding tonight because of predictions of thunder storms across Kent and Sussex. Heavy rain is predicted to fall overnight on Wednesday into Thursday. The Met Office has warned of the potential of localised flooding in areas in the south east of England, particularly in parts of Kent, East Sussex and Brighton & Hove.

The Environment Agency will have an incident room open. The organisation also has teams out working on the ground.

The Met Office has issued a warning of heavy rain tonight, with severe thundery downpours expected in the Kent and Sussex areas on Wednesday night, and overnight into Thursday.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain from midnight on Sunday until 11pm on Monday. That means there is the risk of localised flooding and surface water on the roads leading to difficult road conditions.

It's due to a band of heavy rain, accompanied by strong northeasterly winds, affecting the south and south-east through Sunday night and at times during Monday.

The heaviest of the rain will clear from the south-east during the morning, but further heavy, slow moving and potentially thundery showers are likely to occur.

Workmen are at a Hampshire primary school to cut down a tree after it was hit by lightning.

A roof at Potley Hill Primary School was also struck by lightning this afternoon.

A primary school in Yateley has been closed after a lightning strike this afternoon.

A tree and roof at Potley Hill Primary School were struck and all pupils have been sent home.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for South East and London and warn people to expect heavy rain and thunderstorms.

People across the South have been told to expect localised flooding and surface water could lead to difficult driving conditions.

The Met Office have also issued hail and lightning warnings locally.

The showers are likely to break out across Southern England early on Tuesday afternoon and finish on Tuesday evening.

Today:Cloud and showery rain in the east soon clearing then a much brighter day in prospect with some sunny spells but still a few heavy showers around, mainly near Channel coasts. Still breezy. Maximum Temperature 11 °C.

Tonight:Mostly dry at first, but cloud and outbreaks of rain, locally heavy, spreading across the region for a time followed by a few heavy and blustery showers. Becoming windy. Minimum Temperature 6 °C.

Friday:Some sunny spells but also occasional heavy and blustery showers, and becoming very windy again. Maximum Temperature 11 °C.