FORECASTERS are warning of heavy rain and thunderstorms this evening.

An amber weather warning has been issued by the Met Office from 5.40pm until 9pm tonight (Wednesday)

Most of Wales is covered by the warning and forecasters expect up to 40mm of rain to fall in 20 minutes where the storms hit.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: "Some places will miss these, but where they occur they will be intense.

Rainfall totals of 30-40 mm may fall in as little as 20 minutes, with a chance of 60 mm falling in an hour and 70-100 mm falling in 2-3 hours.

"Large hail, frequent lightning and gusty winds will be additional hazards. Most thunderstorms will die out during later in the evening though a few may continue in to the night."

The amber warning comes after the Met Office extended its yellow warning for thunderstorms until Monday next week.