Showers Set to Shake Up Schedule

After a spring that’s been suspiciously lovely, the Met Office reckons we’ve had 75 hours more sunshine than the whole of last summer, the Isle of Man is bracing itself for a TT fortnight that’s looking a lot more… familiar.

Forecaster Neil Young (not that one) has warned that the weather is about to go rogue, with rain expected to arrive bang on time for the start of the pre-TT Classic at Billown this evening (Friday).

‘It looks like it could be a very difficult week,’ he said. ‘Everyone involved in the TT will have to work very hard to fit everything in.’

We’re in for changeable westerly winds, rain showers that come and go quickly, and low cloud and mist that could cause problems on the Mountain.

‘There will be a mobile westerly which means once a weather system comes through there will be showers behind.

‘This will be a nightmare as the rain could last a couple of hours and move on before another weather front appears.

‘There will also be issues with fog and mist as the warmer air will create low cloud.’

As for forecasts? Precision is tricky.

‘If I say it’ll rain at 10am tomorrow and it comes at 9.30 or 10.30, I’m happy,’ he explained. ‘But stretch that forecast a few days ahead and that 30 minutes becomes a few hours.’

TT organisers will be working closely with the Met Office throughout the fortnight, often speaking several times a day to navigate the ever-shifting weather chaos.

Today’s forecast: dry-ish during the day, rain by evening. Sunday’s shaping up as classic Manx – sunshine, showers, and plenty of shrugs.

On the bright side? It wouldn’t be TT without a bit of drama from the skies.