The Coronation of King Charles III this weekend looks set to be a weather washout as the nation braces for nine days of thunderstorms that could dampen celebrations across the country.
Charles will be officially proclaimed our new King on Saturday (May 6) in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London that will be beamed across the world.
Thousands of people across the UK are getting ready to celebrate the occasion with outdoor street parties and other events, including big-screen viewings.
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However, the weather is not looking too helpful, with heavy rain and thunderstorms looming large on the horizon — particularly in London and the southeast.
While Saturday morning is expected to start off dry, the weather is expected to go downhill, with Cornwall being the first to see heavy rain from 6am.
(Image: PA)
By 11am on Saturday, when the Coronation is set to take place, large swathes of England and Wales will be hit with thunderstorms, with the worst centred in Cardiff, weather maps have revealed.
By 3pm, London is set to be drenched in the downpours — although these may narrowly miss the ceremonial processions which will take place to and from Westminster Abbey, with thousands of people set to line the streets hoping to get a glimpse of the newly crowned monarch.
The Met Office‘s meteorologist, Dan Stroud, told the Daily Express: “We are expecting the weather to become rather unsettled later this week.
“So, Friday and Saturday we are expecting showers to develop across much of England and Wales. Some of those could be locally heavy and potentially thundery.”
(Image: WXCharts)
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He added: “London and the southeast are at most risk of seeing those showers.”
The dodgy weather looks set to continue into the second week of the May, although temperatures will be higher than normal.
Mr Stroud continued: “We are expecting things to remain on the changeable side. So, it is likely to remain unsettled and changeable through to the second week of May with a greater chance of showers.
“It will be slightly warmer than average across England and Wales. We are looking at between 16C and 18C, but always cooler further north.”
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