Rain, Rain, Go Away!

There was an undisguised look of terror in the BBC weather forecaster's face last night as he predicted that the heat wave London is currently experiencing could give way to very British rain, wind and showers for the Jubilee weekend.

Already, today, it is clouding over and feeling distinctly cooler in London. Yesterday, one heavy thundery downpour soaked central London in five minutes, before blue skies returned.

The Queen might enjoy the best conditions while watching the Derby at Epsom on Saturday before outbreaks of rain spread in from the south-west.

While it is unlilely to be as wet as it was for the Queen's coronation 60 years ago, boats on the Thames on the river pageant on Sunday might be heading into a breeze for much of their journey, and participants and spectators will be hoping persistent rain expected across the southern UK holds off until the evening.

Maximum temperatures in London are likely to be around 14C (57F).

On Monday, when Buckingham Place hosts an evening concert with stars from at least five of the Queen's six decades on the throne, there are likely to be a story of showers and bright spells, although temperatures could be slightly warmer.

The forecast for London and the south-east on Tuesday is again sunshine and showers with the possibility of occasional longer spells of rain, so the decision on whether the Queen travels in an open-topped Landau or covered coach for another procession – this time on roads – may have to be made at the last minute.

Dan Williams, of the Met Office, told The Guardian: "It is quite complex weather for the latter part of the weekend. There are quite a number of different pressure systems – two highs either side of side of us, two lows north and south."

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Tom SykesEuropean Editor at Large

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