Cromer Carnival weather: Will it rain or shine?

Cromer Carnival is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year (August 17-23). Picture: Rebecca Claxton (Image: Archant)

The week-long celebration which draws thousands of people to the north Norfolk coast every year gets underway today (Saturday, August 17), and thankfully people visiting and taking part in the events can leave their raincoats at home.

From today through to the official end of the carnival on Saturday Cromer should have mostly sunny skies with cloudy spells and daily maximums of 19C to 22C.

This should make ideal conditions for some of the carnival highlights including the crowning - by Bradley Walsh - of the Carnival Queen on Sunday, and the parade on 'Carnival Day' Wednesday.

However, there is around a 20-30pc chance of rain on Monday and Tuesday afternoon, and around a 20pc chance of showers throughout the day next Saturday (August 24), after most events have finished.

Young carnival-goers testing their strength in a boys vs girls tug-of-war contest at last year's Cromer Carnival.Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Greg Dewhurst, Met Office forecaster, said: "Hopefully from Thursday through the rest of the week those showers should start to become less, but a bit of uncertainty with exactly how less they will become as we head towards the Bank Holiday weekend.

"I'd say, overall, compared with the wet and windy weather we've had over the last few weeks, there is a gradual improvement over the next four or five days.

"But it is only a gradual improvement, rather than any heatwave or hot and sunny weather on the way."

Looking ahead to the Bank Holiday weekend, Mr Dewhurst said it was too far off to know with any certainty, but said it was more likely to be "pleasant" rather than "hot and sunny".

Last weekend events including the Houghton Festival outdoor techno concert and several Parkruns were cancelled due to bad weather. More: Everything you need to know about Cromer Carnival 2019.