Download Pilot 2021: Here's the weather forecast

Updated, June 15, 2pm:

At long last, proper live music is finally on the horizon again with Download Festival’s new three-day Pilot event from June 18 – 20. Though we’ll miss the usual tens of thousands of rock and metal fans making their annual pilgrimage to Donington Park, it’s going to be absolutely glorious having 10,000 lucky gig-goers attending the sold-out event at the weekend. But what of the weather? Well, according to the BBC, that’s not going to be quite on our side…

As is the Download way, in the run-up to the festival we’re always refreshing weather updates to check if we’ll be moshing to the likes of Bullet For The Valentine and Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes in our wellies and walking boots, or dancing to Enter Shikari in blazing sunshine. And this year it seems as though the wellies, boots and raincoats are definitely going to be needed. Oh well, it wouldn’t be Download without a little bit (or a lot) of mud, right?

Though the run-up to the Download Pilot looks nice and sunny, by Thursday, June 17, cloud and rain could hit Castle Donington. And from there, we’ll be battling the elements some more…

Our first check at the weather at Castle Donington earlier this week said, “Light rain and a moderate breeze”, and, well, it’s still the same. There’s highs now of 18 degrees opposed to the initial prediction of 17 (a whole degree warmer! Score!) but from 2pm onwards it seems to be raining pretty solidly until… uh… we all get in our tents at night, when it’ll rain some more. Damn.

There seems to be a slight improvement on Saturday, with the initial “light cloud” being replaced by, “Sunny intervals and a moderate breeze.” With highs of 19 degrees and the sun looking like it’ll be trying to show up throughout this day, this seems alright. And there’s absolutely no rain clouds in sight!

Again, a better day than first expected, with, “Light rain and a moderate breeze” in place of, “Light rain showers and a moderate breeze.” That could very well be the same thing, but we’re staying optimistic. With highs of 20 degrees Sunday is now set to be the ‘warmest’ day yet, but poor Bullet look like they’ll be having a rainy headline set…

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