The Met Office has issued its most accurate Platinum Jubilee forecast yet - and it's not good news.
Early predictions were optimistic that the coming Bank Holiday weekend could be the hottest of the year with highs of up to 28C as Brits prepared to celebrate 70 years of Queen Elizabeth's reign with picnics, barbecues and street parties.
But many of those plans may be scuppered by persistent showers increasing as the highly anticipated weekend - with its accompanying public holidays - draws nearer.
Yesterday meteorologists warned the Jubilee forecast is a "loose cannon" and predicting next weekend's weather exactly would be "difficult".
But their latest update to the five-day forecast indicates that from Wednesday showers will develop "most days".
The northwest in particular has been singled out as likely to experience more "organised rain".
However there is a silver lining: between the frequent showers the temperature will probably be warmer than normal and in some areas it will stay dry long enough to throw a few sausages on the barbecue.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Chris Bulmer warned over the weekend that a plume of warm air had the potential to bring "heavy rain" to some parts of the UK.
"There’s still a lot to be determined for the Jubilee Weekend forecast," he said.
"On balance, it looks like after a showery start, though still fine in places, high-pressure will attempt to build from the west bringing more settled and drier weather, at least for some.”
Patriotic Brits will likely ignore any rain clouds on the horizon and make it outdoors anyway as over 16,000 street parties are planned to go ahead up and down the country this week.
UK forecast for the next 5 days
Cool with sunshine and showers.
Today:
A rather cloudy start across central and northern areas with some rain or showers, whilst southern parts mostly dry with some sunshine. By afternoon, all areas having a mix of sunny intervals and showers, some of these heavy.
Tonight:
Variable cloud and clear spells, and turning chilly with patchy mist and fog. Further showers are likely, particularly areas bordering the Irish Sea and over southeast England.
Tuesday:
Sunny spells and showers, these heavy with hail and thunder in east and north. Best of sunshine in southwestern areas for the afternoon, but cloudier with rain in Northern Ireland.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:
Showers developing most days, with some more organised rain possible for the northwest at times. However between the showers a good deal of dry weather and it should become warmer.
