Union Jack flags in the rain

Weather fit for a King?

by Kirsty McCabe, FRMetS

Coronation bunting

 

The Coronation Weekend is nearly here and as ever, the Great British Weather is keeping the royal meteorologists busy, with a chance of showers raining over Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

 

Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort, taken in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in March 2023 by the photographer Hugo Burnand
Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort, taken in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in March 2023 by the photographer Hugo Burnand

 

An unsettled outlook is pretty much business as usual when it comes to royal events. The Met Office archives reveal that past coronations back to Edward VII have been rather mixed when it comes to the weather, despite being held in late spring/summer. Back in June 1953, the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place on a particularly chilly and wet day with northerly winds and highs of just 11.8C. The mildest of the past 4 coronations was in June 1911 with 17°C, but not much sunshine.

 

Coronation Weather Stats © Met Office
© Met Office

 

Coronation emblem

 

The Coronation of our patron King Charles III takes place on 6th May, so what can we usually expect at this time of year? Looking back at the highs and lows for London on this date reveals a big range in maximum temperatures – from a chilly 8.4°C to a sweltering 27.2°C, with an average around 16°C. May is still a transitional month, and it can feel like the seasons change day by day (and not always in the right order).

 

London weather stats for 6th May © Met Office
© Met Office

 

It's also a peak time for pollen, with the end of the tree pollen season and the start of grass pollen, which affects 95% of hay fever sufferers. Pollen levels are usually at their highest on dry, mild and settled days, so perhaps that’s one silver lining of wet weather. Similarly, with UV levels rising to high in the strong May sunshine, any cloudy skies will help prevent too many red faces among the royal spectators lining London’s streets.

 

The Mall from Admiralty Arch ahead of the Coronation © Kate Drumey
The Mall from Admiralty Arch ahead of the Coronation Weekend, May 2023 © Kate Drumey

 

So what is in store? At the moment the outlook for the Coronation Weekend remains mixed; it should feel warm, but showers, thunderstorms or longer spells of rain are also possible. Best find a gazebo for those street parties, and keep a close eye on the forecast as the timings of the rain are likely to change.

Categories: In the Spotlight Weather
Tags: Climate Clouds News Precipitation Temperature Weather

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