West weather forecaster Ian Fergusson says the Bristol Balloon Festival should start in just hours with three days of mostly dry, settled weather. The outlook matters because the event depends on balloon conditions, and a series of mass ascents and night glows will go ahead only if the weather allows.
Fergusson expects temperatures to begin in the low 20s C on Friday, rise into the mid-20s C by Saturday and reach the mid to high 20s C on Sunday. He also says the chance of showers is very low across the event, although a few showers are possible early on Friday as they move into North Somerset off the Bristol Channel.
Ian Fergusson and Ashton Court
Ian Fergusson forecasts mid to high 20s C for Bristol Balloon Festival as thousands of people head to Ashton Court for the weekend. The forecast also points to high UV levels and a high pollen count throughout the three days, while Sunday may become somewhat breezier during the afternoon.
The weekend pattern is set by high pressure, which Fergusson says will dominate over the three days. That should give the fiesta cloud and sunshine as well as settled conditions, even though previous years have seen rainfall, wind or high temperatures stop mass ascents from taking place.
Jo Bailey at the fiesta
Hot air balloon pilot Jo Bailey wants to break the record for the most ascents by one person. Her goal sits inside the same weather window as the planned mass ascents and night glows, and those displays remain tied to whether the forecast holds through each part of Friday and Sunday.
Next month, a dozen hot air balloons took off from College Green to mark the return of the fiesta, and this weekend now looks far more accommodating for the event's larger programme at Ashton Court and the surrounding displays.
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta depends on the weather, so a dry start and rising temperatures give organisers a workable opening. If the showers stay away, the clearest reading from Fergusson's outlook is that the main programme has room to run across all three days.
