THE Met Office has forecast rain and thunderstorms as festival-goers arrive at Glastonbury today.
Warmer weather is forecast as the festival continues.
Attendees have begun to arrive for this year’s festival[/caption]
Last year saw over 200,000 attendees, with a similar number expected this year[/caption]
The festival’s founder Michael Eavis was there as the gates were opened today[/caption]
The Met Office has forecast thunderstorms set to hit later today[/caption]
However, temperatures are set to soar by the weekend, with highs of 30C.
Wednesday, June 25, is set to be “humid and very warm” in the south of England, with a “threat of heavy, possibly thundery showers” later in the day.
It could be a messy start to the festival, with its 1500 acres of farmland turning into a mud bath in previous years.
While the festival is best known for its music, revellers can enjoy the range of stalls, set up their tents and explore the grounds in the meantime.
The weather is due to get worse as the day progresses.
Forecaster Paul Gundersen said that thunderstorms with “lightning, hail and heavy rain” may lash the south east of England overnight.
On Wednesday at 10pm the festival will open with a theatre and circus act set in the Pyramid Arena, which will showcase acrobatic and circus performances, as well as a fireworks display.
Moving into Thursday, the weather should improve as the rest of the festival is set to be mostly dry and mild, with temperatures in the low 20s.
Gundersen said: “Elsewhere through Thursday, rain will move eastwards across the UK, clearing to showers, with some sunny spells breaking through at times.”
The Met Office website has forecast highs of 22C around 2pm, before dipping into the high teens in the evening.
A heatwave in the UK is met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days, with temperature values meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature thresholds.
Across the north and west of the UK this is 25C, and across Greater London and the Home Counties, 28C.
Gundersen added: “Friday will start dry in the east, with rain moving in from the west, becoming showery later.”
As the music festival kicks off, attendees can soak up the warmer temperatures as it reaches 24C by 4pm on Friday.
When opening headliner The 1975 take to the stage at 10pm, temperatures still remain mild at 18C.
Many parts of the country, including the Somerset-based Glastonbury, will stay dry on Saturday as the patch of rain moves south east and eases.
It gives revellers a chance to enjoy acts like Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, Charli XCX, and Doechii without having to worry about the weather.
Sunday is due to see “variable cloud and showers” in the north, with “patchy rain and drizzle” in the west, but otherwise it should stay dry with sunny spells.
Rod Stewart is bringing the sun to his legends’ spot performance at 3.45pm on Sunday – with the Met Office anticipating highs of 25C.
The singer previously said he would be joined by his former Faces band member Ronnie Wood, among other guests.
With the festival coming to a close, the weather is set to stay dry and warm while making the journey home on Monday.
Parts of the south are set for another glorious weekend with temperatures set to hit 30C – hotter than Rio de Janeiro.
It comes after last weekend saw Brits enjoying the heat, as parts of the UK reached 33C on saturday – the hottest day so far this year.
Other performers include Irish singer CMAT, Prada singer Raye, US musician Brandi Carlile, Nile Rodgers and Chic, hip-hop star Loyle Carner, US pop star Gracie Abrams, indie outfit Wet Leg, Mercury Prize-winning jazz quintet Ezra Collective, US rapper Denzel Curry, and rising star Lola Young.
Festival-goers from all across the country have travelled to Somerset for the festival[/caption]
Revellers arrive laden with camping gear to set up for the weekend[/caption]
The rest of the festival is set to remain dry with some sunny spells[/caption]
This year’s line up includes Olivia Rodrigo, The 1975 and Neil Young as headliners[/caption]
