Hertfordshire including Hitchin could face tornadoes today, Thursday (February 22) a research group has claimed.

The bizarre warning comes amid local residents expecting more unsettled weather

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) has forecast rain which could bring 'squally gusts and the chance of one or two brief tornadoes' in southern England.

The stark warning comes after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for rain between 5am and 5pm today, Thursday.

TORRO said: "Overnight, parts of Wales will have one or two lines of showery rain, and then later tonight and on Thursday, another area of showery rain, with lines/possible cells, will cross parts of central and southern England.

"Both of these sets of showery rain may bring squally gusts, and the small chance of one or two brief tornadoes - the highest chance of gusts and isolated tornadoes appears to be over parts of Central Southern England, the SE Midlands, E Anglia, and SE England later on Thursday morning and into Thursday afternoon."

The research group has said the regions could be battered by 60mph winds, hail and lightning. With residents also being warned over possible fallen trees from the high winds (see main picture).

The Met Office has also said flooding and power cuts are possible while urging residents to expect potential rail and bus cancellations.

An hour-by-hour forecast suggests the worst rain is likely to hit between 12pm and 1pm, before possibly returning at around 3pm.