HEAVY rain is expected today as the Met Office issues a weather warning.

The warning covers much of the south of the country and is expected to last until 8pm this evening (October 1).

The warning warns of flooding as 50mm of rain expected.

A Met Office spokesman said: "Heavy showers are expected to affect south Wales and southwest England on Tuesday morning then other parts of southern England during the day, peaking across the southeast during the afternoon.

"These will become slow-moving for a time with some very large rainfall totals possible in a few places.

"While many places will see showers, the majority of places will see only relatively small rainfall accumulations.

"The highest rainfall accumulations are only likely to occur in a few spots where the showers become slow-moving, with 40-50 mm possible in only a couple of hours.

"Lightning and some hail may also prove additional hazards for one or two locations.

"The showers will clear from the west and the north later in the afternoon but persist in the southeast into the evening."

In Somerset, heavy rain is set to hit around 1pm, and showers will continue until 7pm.