With the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend fast approaching, many are wondering what the weather will be like as the nation begins planning street parties and celebrations.
The four-day bank holiday weekend kicks off at 10am on Thursday 2 June with a special jubilee edition of the traditional Trooping The Colour parade in central London.
While it is premature to make an official prediction, the weather for the weekend is looking promising with lots of sunshine forecast.
Sky News’ weather producer Kirsty McCabe said: “At the moment it looks as though the weather will turn drier and increasingly settled as we head towards the end of May with high pressure becoming the dominant feature into the first week of June.
“That means we can expect largely dry, settled and warm conditions with a royally good amount of sunshine for the Jubilee weekend.”
She added: “Of course, forecast models can’t give specific details this far in advance, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the details nearer the time. However, the present outlook indicates weather fit for a Queen.”
McCabe explained that air descends under an area of high pressure, limiting cloud formation.
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High pressure in the British summertime often brings fine, warm weather and light winds, she added.
The Met Office confirmed the prospect of sunny weather ahead of the jubilee weekend, saying: “Into June, temperatures are likely to be above average across the south but closer to average further north.”
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But it added that the weather may turn “less settled” toward mid-June across the north of the UK, bringing rain or showers, while the south could remain largely fine.
It comes after the UK has enjoyed some hot spells so far this spring, recording its hottest day of the year so far on Tuesday after temperatures in the South East peaked at 27.5C (81.5F).
The highest temperature was recorded at Heathrow, according to the Met Office.
It also means that the UK was warmer than some popular holiday destinations like Santorini in Greece, which only saw 26C (78.8F) on Tuesday.
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Trooping the Colour, the sovereign’s official birthday parade will kick start the four days of Jubilee festivities, with the Queen “looking forward” to the weekend of celebrations.
It has been announced a gathering on the Buckingham Palace balcony after the Trooping the Colour ceremony, will be limited to just working royals – with the Duke of York and Harry and Meghan omitted from the line-up.
There will be no ceremonial journey to the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday 3 June, and the 96-year-old monarch, who is facing mobility issues, will use a different entrance rather than scaling the steep steps.
The 18th century Gold State Coach will appear on the streets of London for the first time in 20 years when it leads the Jubilee Pageant procession on Sunday 5 June.
