DERBY BBQ DAY
Hot favourite: You can bet the sun will shine
FAMILIES are set to bask in a Derby Day dazzler today with sunshine to rival the French Riviera.
Forecasters warned most of the country would be drenched last night as another thunderstorm rattled overhead.
But the clouds were expected to part this morning and bring sunshine to almost all of us.
The sweltering weather will delight the 125,000 horse racing fans invading
Surrey for the world famous Epsom Derby where the mercury will jump to 27C.
That means Britain will outshine Nice in the south of France where the temperature is only expected to hit 25C.
Met Office forecaster Bonnie Diamond said: “Sunny spells are due on Saturday for the Derby, with thunderstorms reducing and mainly only in Scotland and some eastern parts. “Sunday looks even drier still, with 26C highs possible.”
And Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze added: “The south will be drier on Saturday as humidity reduces, with Sunday dry and sunny for most.”
Today’s sun was a welcome change after the “worst week” in recent memory of thunderstorms interrupting our sleep. Flood alerts were put out last night as another downpour was due. About 80mm of water was expected to be dumped in some areas – about a month and a half ’s worth – over just two to three hours. Brian added: “It’s a flaming awful start to June – in the worst week of thunderstorms in living memory.” Meanwhile Met Office figures showed the UK enjoyed its sunniest May on record. A total of 245.3 hours of sunshine were measured over the country last month – more than any May since records began in 1929.