Coronation weather forecast UK: what can we expect for King's bank holiday weekend 2023?

Spells of wet and windy weather forecast across the UK for the coronation bank holiday weekend of King Charles III
King Charles III is celebrating his official ascension to the throne. (Getty Images)King Charles III is celebrating his official ascension to the throne. (Getty Images)
King Charles III is celebrating his official ascension to the throne. (Getty Images)

Thousands of Brits are hoping to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III with sunny weather, street parties and barbecues.

The highly anticipated event comes as a part of a blockbuster bank holiday weekend which also features a Coronation Concert with star-studded guests such as Take That and Lionel Richie.

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The upcoming coronation is the first to be held in the UK since Queen Elizabeth’s coronation back in 1953. Many Brits are hoping for ideal party conditions ahead of the event but what are the weather forecasters predicting? Here is everything you need to know.

King Charles coronation weather forecast

Despite hopes of sun-kissed street parties, heavy rainfall is forecast during the weekend of the coronation with parts of the UK even experiencing thundery downpours.

The Met Office is predicting that Saturday itself will likely bring "showers to many areas, the heaviest of these most likely across central and eastern areas which may turn thundery at times".

As well as rain, winds are expected to pick up for many, with "gusty conditions" in the north. These conditions are expected to persist into Sunday for the coronation concert and into Monday as many will be volunteering on the King's bank holiday (8 May).

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The risk of thunderstorms increases through, "but with increased uncertainty around the areas most likely to see the heaviest of these", say the Met Office. "The generally unsettled theme is most likely to continue for the remainder of next week, with a chance of rain or showers interspersed with some drier periods, the best of which could be in the north and east. Temperatures generally around normal, perhaps a little above normal at times."

The news will come as a huge blow to many Brits who are hoping to celebrate the occasion with street parties and barbecues.

What has the weather been like on same May weekend in recent years?

Recent rainfall statistics from the first weekend of May suggest that there is a high probability of dry weather during the King’s Coronation weekend. Statistics from the first weekend of May since 2012:

May 2012

  • Highs of 10.5C
  • Lows of 5.2C
  • Max rainfall in mm: 0.2

May 2013

  • Highs of 18.7C
  • Lows of 5.4C
  • Max rainfall in mm: 1

May 2014

  • Highs of 19.4C
  • Lows of 5.4C
  • Max rainfall in mm: 8.2

May 2015

  • Highs of 20.3C
  • Lows of 9.1C
  • Max rainfall in mm 0.2

May 2016

  • Highs of 26.8C
  • Lows of 11C
  • Max rainfall in mm: 0

May 2017

  • Highs of 18.7C
  • Lows of 7.6C
  • Max rainfall in mm: 0

May 2018

  • Highs of 26.3C
  • Lows of 6C
  • Max rainfall in mm: 0

May 2019

  • Highs of 12.7C
  • Lows of 1.4C
  • Max rainfall in mm: 0

May 2020

  • Highs of 15.5C
  • Lows of 6C
  • Max rainfall in mm: 0.2

May 2021

  • Highs of 12C
  • Lows of 2C
  • Max rainfall: data not provided

May 2022

  • Highs of 20.6C
  • Lows of 9.6C
  • Max rainfall in mm: 0

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