Shropshire weather: Wash-out weekend for many events but temperatures set to climb again
More than an inch of rain fell over the bank holiday, although there was at least some respite as the long weekend came to an end.
Brighter skies yesterday brought some relief – but not before the downpour on Sunday meant a wash-out for many events.
With the long holiday weekend out of the way, the weather is set to turn more settled and a little warmer.
And the wet weather finally put to an end any concern over the levels of rivers and reservoirs in our region.
Meteorologist Helen Roberts said the hills of Mid Wales were among the wettest, with some areas getting more than inch-and-a-half of rain in little more than 24 hours.
The rivers should be able to cope with those rainfall amounts," she added. "Obviously it has been fairly dry for the last few months, so rivers and catchments aren't particularly full at the moment."
Oswestry Balloon Carnival, which got underway on Saturday, was blown off course on Sunday when torrential downpours forced organisers to end the event mid morning.
In Shrewsbury, music lovers at the town's Folk Festival were forced to find shelter in the numerous big top tents and marquees dotted around the West Mid Showground. But with musicians including The Passerine, Johnny Coppin & Phil Beer, Usher's Island and Peter Knight & John Spiers they soon forgot their weather worries. And campers who were given a soaking on Sunday were able to dry out yesterday.
There was nowhere to hide at the Salop Steam Rally, held at Onslow Park, Shrewsbury. Thousands of people braved the rain to take in the sights of more than 1,000 exhibits including the show's debut of camel racing. Organisers were hopeful that the grassed main arena would stand up to the demands of the heavy machinery and were delighted the event went as smoothly as it did.
Cooling
Runners taking part in the Ellesmere 10K were also drenched, but for many the rain provided a welcome, albeit, cooling relief.
It wasn't only in Shropshire where events were cancelled or called off.
Heavy rain on Sunday brought a halt of the Silverstone GoPro British Grand Prix MotoGP.
Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle made a personal apology, in an online post, after race fans were "subjected to the most extraordinarily long wait in the foulest of British weather conditions which ultimately resulted in no race at all".
He said that a hoped for break in the weather did not arrive and the riders decided not to race as the conditions were not going to be right to race.
Revellers were also soaked at the Notting Hill Carnival in London and at Manchester Pride, where headliner Rita Ora refused to let the weather dampen her spirits.
Meteorologists predict that temperatures in Shropshire will rise throughout the week into the low 20s.
While there will be a fair amount of cloud, there will also be some bright spells. However, the rain is never far away so people should expect some showers.
In the longer range, temperatures are expected to hover near normal for much of this week. The next weather front will move in later today and into tomorrow, introducing the chance for rain back into the forecast.
