Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony Weather Forecast: What are the chances of rain in Paris?
The weather forecast for Paris ahead of the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday, July 26, is raising concerns. The historic event, which will be the first Opening Ceremony in the history of the Modern Olympic Games to be held outdoors rather than inside a stadium, is scheduled to take place on the River Seine in Paris.
The ceremony, which begins at 7:30 PM local time (11:00 PM IST), is expected to last more than three hours. However, the weather might play spoilsport. According to Weather.com, there is a significant chance of rain, with precipitation probabilities at around 72%, and it could range up to 90% throughout the evening.
The forecast raises worries about the potential impact on the festivities, which will attract thousands of spectators eager to see the 10,500 Olympic athletes parading down the Seine in boats.
"I think the rain will be a problem” - Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo points out weather concerns ahead of Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony
The organizers of the Paris Olympics 2024 previously stated that the opening ceremony would proceed as planned. However, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo expressed concerns in a recent CNN interview, highlighting safety issues for performers, especially dancers, if the weather turns bad.
"I think the rain will be a problem if we have rain (during the opening ceremony) because many moments in this show need to be very safe for the dancer and without rain and without water," Hidalgo told CNN.
Adding to the concern, weather forecaster Patrick Marliere from Agate Meteo has predicted substantial rainfall between 6:00 PM local time and midnight on the day of the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony.
"It's going to be a disaster for these few hours," Marliere said on RMC radio, explaining that an estimated 25 mm to 30 mm (0.98 to 1.18 inches) of rain is expected during the ceremony, which is the equivalent of 15 days' worth of rainfall.