There is a 70 to 80 percent likelihood of 'moderate to heavy' rainfall during the Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony, which commences at 9:30pm UAE time today, according to French weather channel La Chaine Meteo.
Meteorologist Cyrille Duchesne noted on the channel's website that there remains uncertainty regarding the storm's path and precise location. 'Some models place Paris on the fringe of this heavy rain, whereas others predict rainfall of 15-20 millimeters (1.5 to 2 centimeters), equivalent to 10 days of rain in just two or three hours,' he explained.
An estimated hundreds of thousands of spectators are anticipated to gather to witness the 10,500 Olympic athletes parading along the River Seine via boats, an event that will be televised globally to hundreds of millions.
A grand artistic spectacle has been kept secret in the lead-up to the ceremony. 'The warm and sunny conditions we might have wished for at this time of year will not materialize,' Duchesne stated. 'Regardless, tonight, the sun will shine in the hearts of all participants and viewers worldwide,' he added.
Meteo France, the state weather agency, offered a slightly divergent forecast, predicting 'light to moderate rain this evening in Paris.' 'The wind will be minimal and temperatures will hover around 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit), under an overcast sky,' they noted.
