UK weather: London Marathon’s sunny start as temps reach 13C – but Met Office map reveals exact time RAIN will hit

THE sun will be shining for marathon runners today – before downpours start soaking Brits.

Eager athletes this morning woke to blue skies but chilly temperatures.

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And they’re set to mostly have a good day weather wise, with the mercury set to hit a high of 13C in the capital.

But, the Met Office said rain is likely to start falling in the afternoon – putting a dampener on celebrations.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin gave an insight into what the London Marathon 2024 competitors can expect today.

He said: “If you’ve been training hard for the marathon you’ve probably been training in the rain and under the influence of low pressure.

“Our weather patterns are shifting this weekend and this high moving in will bring many of us a fine day on Saturday.

“Now that high is sticking around for Sunday and the big race but as it starts to edge back a bit further west, it does mean across the southeast there will be a bit of a northerly breeze and quite a lot of cloud around.”

It’s forecast to be about 8C when the marathon kicks off at 10am.

Temperatures are set to climb 1C an hour until it hits 13C around 3pm.

They’ll start dropping after that, with rain falling further north.

In terms of the rest of the country, the Met said it’s likely to be a dry day in the south and wetter in the north.

Forecasters said: “Dry for many with sunny spells, but isolated showers in East Anglia.

“Cloudy across Scotland with outbreaks of light rain spreading into northern England and north Wales.

“Brisk winds in the southeast, but light elsewhere. Feeling warm in the sunshine.”

They said tonight is likely to be clear for most – with the chance of frost in some areas.

Wales and northern England is expected to mostly be cloudy, with patchy rain.

Looking ahead into next week, it’s looking unsettled.

In the Met’s long-range weather forecast, from Thursday-Saturday, it said: “High pressure will likely be retreating to the northwest of the UK at the start of this period, with conditions turning generally more unsettled than the previous few days as low pressure becomes more dominant.

“Wet weather is perhaps more likely to develop in parts of the south and east, with western and especially northern areas hanging on to the best of any drier interludes, though all parts are may some rain at times.

“Onshore winds along eastern coasts will likely make it feel rather cold at times, though for all parts temperatures will often be a little below average.

“Into early May, something of a north-south split looks possible, with relatively drier conditions further to the north and the greatest chance of rain further to the south.”