UPDATED WEDNESDAY 15:36*
THE Met Office has upgraded its weather warning for part of the Isle of Wight today (Wednesday).
An amber 'be prepared' warning for heavy rain and thuderstorms was issued at 1.15pm for the northern half of the Island, roughly from Yarmouth to Bembridge, valid from 3.20pm to 9pm today. The southern half of the Island is still covered by a yellow 'be prepared' warning for heavy rain.
Earlier it had issued a 'yellow' be aware warning.
The Met Office said: "A band of heavy showers and thunderstorms accompanied by hail will continue to affect some south coastal counties of England through this afternoon (Wednesday) and into the early evening. The public should be prepared for an increased risk of localised flooding and disruption to travel, particularly during today's rush hour. The showers should gradually ease from the west this evening.
"The public should be prepared for an increased risk of localised flooding and disruption to travel, particularly during today's rush hour. The showers should gradually ease from the west this evening."
A Met Office chief forecaster said for today: "15 to 30mm of rain could fall in an hour or less in places, with perhaps as much as 50mm in three hours. This will lead to localised flooding, especially since the ground is already saturated."
A warning for heavy rain tomorrow (Thursday) was issued at 11.32am today. The yellow 'be aware' warnings for heavy rain are in place from 8am until midnight tomorrow and for all of Friday. The Met Office also issued a warning for heavy rain all-day Saturday at 1.40pm today.
For Thursday the Met Office said: "Outbreaks of heavy rain are expected to reach southwest England during Thursday morning and extend east across the rest of southern England on Thursday afternoon."
For Friday the forecaster said: "An active frontal zone will move quickly east across southern Britain early on Friday.
"Amounts of rainfall are likely to be between 10 and 20mm for most and isolated 30mm locally — not normally much of an issue, but given the wet ground some localised flooding is possible."
For Saturday the Met Office said: "Heavy and thundery showers are likely to affect parts of southern Britain on Saturday, some of which could be slow-moving giving spells of more persistent heavy rain."
*Vectis 4X4 Response said forecasters said the weather was likely to remain unsettled for the next couple of weeks, with rain or showers, including heavy rain and thunder, likely to affect all areas at times.
Weather at the end of July and in early August was expected to remain changeable, with temperatures likely to be near or below the seasonal average, according to forecasters.
The Isle of Wight Council said that in areas at risk of flooding, sandbags are available at the following locations:
East Cowes – junction of Well Road and Castle Street
Ryde – junction of Westhill Road and The Strand
Yarmouth – River Road
Cowes – St Mary’s car park
Godshill - Car park opposite The Griffin pub