Revellers arriving at Glastonbury Festival this morning got soaked as heavy rain rolled across the site today (June 21). Emily Eavis, daughter of co-founder Michael Eavis, threw open the gates to Worthy Farm at 8am as thousands of festivalgoers made their way through the site.
Whilst things stayed dry for the grand opening, the clouds opened as attendees searched for somewhere to pitch their tents. Eager revellers can be seen hauling their belongings through the muddy Pilton site on their backs and in wheelbarrows as the rain comes pouring down in photographs taken by Somerset Live reporters.
Some festivalgoers, in a desperate bid to stay dry, carried some of their camping supplies on their heads as they hunted for the perfect place to pitch their tents. The Met Office has warned that the South West of England and southern half of Wales can expect heavy rain and thunderstorms from midday today until 7pm this evening.
Read more: Glastonbury traders' marquee rescued by neighbours after heavy rain nearly sends them home
The areas affected by this warning include Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, South Wales, and parts of Dorset and Herefordshire. The UK's national weather service has advised that residents living within the affected area should expect driving conditions to be affected by spray, standing water and/or hail, leading to longer journey times by car and bus.
The Met Office has also warned that delays to train services are possible, and there may be some damage to a few buildings and structures as a result of lightning strikes. It said: "Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to break out from late morning. Many places will miss these, but where they do occur, 20-30 mm rain may fall in 1-2 hours. Showers and thunderstorms will mostly die out by early evening."
On a positive note, the rain could provide Glastonbury Festival attendees with a much-needed shower to wash away the sweat, blood and tears that hoisting tents onto the muddy Worthy Farm site brings out. After today's yellow thunderstorm warning, the rest of the Festival, which runs until Sunday, looks like it will be mostly dry.
The Met Office is currently forecasting some light showers between midday and 2pm for Thursday, although these come with just a 20% chance. Revellers will be able to dry off quickly, though, as temperatures in the early-mid twenties are predicted for the rest of the week.
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