Organisers of the Hackney Weekend and the Isle of Wight festival have advised attendees to bring their wet weather gear as weather forecasters have predicted a wet and windy weekend. The bleak weather continues an expectedly damp June which seems certain to carry on into July.
The Isle of Wight festival is expected to attract up to 50,000 people and will be headlined by the likes of Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band plus Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
The large doses of rain turned the Isle of Wight festival region into a mud pool which created chaos for hundreds of attendees. Some ferry sailings were suspended and those that managed to get across had to hold passengers on board as the clogged roads prevented passengers getting off the ferry.
The organiser’s problems started when the rain made the festival’s car parks unusable and the advice to ticket holders was not to travel by car if possible. Suggested alternatives included ferry crossings which was the easiest way for travelers on foot.
Heavy rain warnings are in place for the north-west and falls of up to 100mm are expected in some places. Forecasters said that Lancashire, Merseyside and the Greater Manchester area needed to prepare for rainfall of up to 60mm.
Flooding is likely and residents should be making preparations. Environment Agency experts will be working over the weekend to check flood barriers, clear river overflows and to provide residents with the latest information.
Other areas of the country including West Wales and the south-east of England are also on alert for possible localised issues including surface flooding. The heavy rain is expected to create problems as early as Friday and right through the weekend.
