All eyes will be on the skies as Greater Manchester prepares for a four-day bank holiday bonanza to mark the Queen's Jubilee weekend.
With thousands of street parties and outdoor celebrations planned across the country to mark Her Majesty's 70-year reign, many will be hoping for a repeat of the sunshine that prevailed during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee festivities in 2012, when temperatures soared amid clear blue skies.
The Met Office said there was still 'plenty of detail to work out', but confirmed forecasters were monitoring how a plume of warm air from over the continent develops as the Platinum Jubilee weekend draws near.
'Good sunny spells' are in store for the many street parties and outdoor events planned across the country, though people should not expect a scorcher, according to the Met Office.
The unsettled and unseasonably cool start to the week – with some areas seeing below-freezing temperatures on Monday morning – will gradually give way to drier, brighter and warmer weather in time for the long weekend. Met Office meteorologist Richard Miles said: "It's fine and dry rather than major sunshine, but good sunny spells. Most people should see a bit of sunshine."
But revellers going to outdoor celebrations would be wise to be ready for all eventualities. "You'd be unlucky if you had to use the umbrella, but take one just in case, because you can never know," Mr Miles said. "You're more likely to need the sunglasses than the umbrella."
Thursday and Friday are officially bank holidays to mark the celebration, with the weekend meaning many will get a four-day break. The Met Office said after a rainy and cloudy start to the week in Greater Manchester - with temperatures staying under 16C - the weather should turn from Thursday into the weekend, with highs of 18 and 19C.
Monday is set to be a grey, drizzly day across the city region, with rain expected into the evening and highs of just 11C. Drier, brighter condition are forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, with sunnier skies and a lower chance of rainfall, according to Met Office forecasters.
The unsettled weather, bringing showers and clouds, is set to stick around until at least Wednesday, when temperatures will start creeping up again. Sunny intervals are predicted for Thursday, changing to cloudy in the afternoon, with highs of 18C.
The chance of rainfall is said to be just five per cent with only slight breezes, marking a promising start to the celebrations. Sunny intervals are predicted to be welcomed across Greater Manchester by late morning on Friday - a forecast echoed for Saturday and Sunday.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Bulmer said: "After a fine day for most on Saturday, and some on Sunday, cooler and more unsettled conditions will be quite widely established by Monday. After a cool start to the week, temperatures are expected to return back to around average through the week.
"What we’re keeping an eye on for the latter part of the week is how far north this plume of warm air comes.
"There's still a lot to be determined for the Jubilee weekend forecast. 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."
More than 85,000 people have signed up to host Big Jubilee Lunches, the official community celebration for the Platinum Jubilee. And estimates say more than 16,000 street parties are expected to be thrown over the bank holiday weekend.
Councils across England have received 'a huge number' of applications from residents eager to celebrate the monarch's milestone, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).
Many councils have waived administration fees for road closures, of which there were 9,500 during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012, the LGA said. A snap poll of a dozen councils by the LGA showed they have approved more than 1,000 street parties.
