THUNDERSTORMS and heavy downpours are set to batter parts of central and southern Scotland this weekend as the Met Office extends a yellow weather warning.

Originally, the weather warning which was issued yesterday covered most of the south-west of Scotland, Edinburgh and Strathclyde on Friday between 10am and midnight.

Now the yellow weather warning has been extended until 9am on Saturday, August 7 covering all of central Scotland, Tayside, and Fife, the south west of Scotland including the Lothians and Borders, and the whole of the Strathclyde region.

The torrential rain and stormy weather is also forecast to hit northern England, Ireland and parts of Wales.

READ MORE: Risk of 'sudden flooding' as Scotland hit with another thunderstorms warning

Weather experts have warned that as much as 80mm to 100mm of rain could fall in a short space of time in some areas.

A statement from the Met Office read: “Heavy showers are expected across much of the UK on Friday. 

“Within the warning area these showers and thunderstorms will be slow moving and may cause localised surface water impacts. 

“Rainfall totals will vary considerably and not all locations will be affected by the heaviest showers. 

“However, where the showers do occur there is potential for 20-30 mm of rain in a short space of time and during the course of the day there is a chance that some places could see as much as 80-100 mm build up.”

The weather warning means that there is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater.

Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures, and where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services.