A yellow severe weather warning for thunderstorms has been issued covering a large area of the UK today.

Within the worst affected areas, slow-moving thunderstorms could lead to rainfall accumulations of 20-25mm within an hour.

Some locations could see in excess of 40mm in a 2-3 hour period.

The Met Office has allocated the warning to central England and Wales, which means Oxford looks likely to experience thunderstorms, as predicted by the Met Office.

What do different weather warnings mean?

Oxfordshire weather forecast:

Today:

Any early rain clearing, with clouds breaking to brighter or sunny intervals. Isolated showers developing, perhaps heavy. Thicker cloud and rain, with heavier perhaps thundery bursts spreading east during the afternoon. Turning windy along English Channel coasts. Maximum temperature 20 °C.

Tonight:

Heavy showers, perhaps thundery, soon easing away east. Cloud thickening for a time overnight, with further outbreaks of mainly light rain, but some heavier bursts. Blustery winds easing a little. Minimum temperature 12 °C.

Thursday:

Early cloud and any showers quickly clearing south. Largely fine day follows with sunny spells and variable amounts of cloud. Perhaps the odd shower developing later. Brisk northwesterly winds easing. Maximum temperature 23 °C.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

Rather cloudy Friday with showers, heavy and perhaps thundery. Turning wet and likely windy again Saturday. Rather breezy Sunday with sunny spells and showers. Staying rather cool for early August.

What the Met Office say:

Met Office chief meteorologist, Dan Suri, said: “An unseasonably deep area of low pressure for the time of year will move into Ireland during the early hours of Wednesday then continue across Wales and England during Wednesday daytime.

"Heavy rain associated with this low will affect large parts of the UK tonight and on Wednesday, some of the heaviest rain occurring on Wednesday over central parts of England and Wales where some locations could see 40mm of rain in just a few hours from thundery downpours.

"This deep low will also bring high winds into the UK on Wednesday, especially the south. Gusts of up to 60mph are possible in the very far southwest early on Wednesday whilst further along the south coast the highest gusts will be during Wednesday daytime."