Epsom Derby Hit with Yellow Weather Warning as Thunderstorms and Hail Forecast
The Epsom Derby, one of the most prestigious horse racing events in the world, is set to take place on Saturday at Epsom Downs in Surrey, England. However, the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the area, citing thunderstorms and hail as a possibility.
According to The Sun, a downpour on Thursday changed the ground for Friday’s racing on Ladies’ Day to good to soft, good in places, and there is more rain set to fall overnight. The Met Office warning, which is in place from 9am to 6pm on Saturday, covers most of the south of Britain and extends to mid-Wales in the west, up to Birmingham and down to Exeter.
A statement on the Met Office website read: “Heavy showers and thunderstorms may lead to some disruption to transport and infrastructure. There is a good chance driving conditions will be affected by spray, standing water and/or hail, leading to longer journey times by car and bus.” The Met Office spokesperson told The Sun: “There are still some uncertainties in the forecast for Saturday regarding the exact track and speed of the weather system impacting our weather that day. However, we are confident that it will be a very showery day, with some heavy showers accompanied by thunder and small hail.”
The uncertainty lies in where exactly the heaviest rain will fall, but the Met Office is confident that it’ll be an unsettled day with some heavy showers and thunderstorms, which could have an impact on conditions for the race. The Sun reported that the clerk of the course, Andrew Cooper, said the ground could change to soft for Saturday’s racing.
He said: “I would think, with the forecast we’re looking at, there has got to be a chance of it being soft ground on Saturday. We have a mile of fresh ground on the inner on Saturday but we could be starting on good to soft today and we will have rain of some magnitude overnight. Soft ground has to be a real possibility.” This year’s Epsom Derby is worth £1.5million to the winner, with 19 of the most awesome three-year-old colts in the world set to compete.
Those attending the two-day festival this year have been warned they face £100 on-the-spot fines for unruly behaviour. Bosses are clamping down on any anti-social activity, which includes continuing to drink after being told to stop. The event is expected to draw thousands of punters to the Surrey track, who may be forced to watch from under their umbrellas.
In related news, The Sun reported that last year’s Ladies’ Day saw racegoers arrive under umbrellas, while in 2021 many were forced to run for cover as another downpour came just as punters started rocking up.
As the event approaches, The Sun is urging fans to gamble responsibly. A responsible gambler is someone who establishes time and monetary limits before playing, only gambles with money they can afford to lose, never chases their losses, and doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed.
For more information on responsible gambling practices, fans can visit Gamcare or Gamble Aware.
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