As Thousands Line Up to Pay Respects, Cold Weather Expected for Queen's Lying in State
As large crowds continue to queue in London to pay their respects to the Queen, mourners will face chilly conditions with temperatures expected to drop as low as 7°C this weekend. The Met Office has warned that visitors waiting outside will experience cooler nights as they make their way to Westminster Hall.
Temperatures in central London are forecast to fall to around 7°C by Friday night, with the Met Office predicting light northerly winds that will make it feel even cooler. Although rain is not expected, those standing for long periods of time will need to bundle up against the cold. Viewing will be available 24 hours a day until 6:30am on Monday, the day of the state funeral, allowing the public a few more days to pay their respects.
Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge advised: "While the weather will be dry during the day, it will feel fresher by night, and the temperature will drop to 7°C to 10°C by Friday evening. If you’re standing in line for hours, you’ll need to dress warmly."
The weather will remain cool over the coming days, with sunny spells during the day and clear skies at night, though temperatures will gradually decrease further. With people expected to wait for extended periods along the River Thames, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has launched an online tracker to help visitors estimate queue lengths.
Though conditions will be manageable during daylight hours, the public is urged to prepare for colder temperatures at night while paying their respects to the late monarch.
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