LONDON marathon runners can expect ideal conditions for their big race today - just hours before the weather worsens.

       The capital is set to stay dry and fine this morning as athletes from around the world descend on the city to race.

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       Runners compete the Virgin London Marathon 2019 Credit: Getty 7

       The weather is set to be ideal for running this morning Credit: AFP 7

       It's set to be dry and fine in the capital this morning when runners race

       It's set to be a sunny start for most of the UK, but showers in the west could turn heavy as they move eastwards - some with hail and thunder.

       Temperatures in London will be at around 11C between 8-9am as the marathon begins, rising to highs of 17C during the day.

       Gusts of wind could be a problem for runners, with speeds between 30-35mph blasting throughout the day.

       The Met Office also predicts several showers throughout the day, but no more than 2-3mm of rainfall.

       These shouldn't be an issue for Londoners first thing, but could help cool late finishers later in the day.

       A Met Office spokesperson said: "It looks a lovely sunny morning to come, plenty of sunshine around but a bit of a south-westerly breeze and the cloud will tend to increase as the race goes on.

       "Certainly for later finishes into the afternoon, there will be more cloud around the wind will have picked up a little bit, and there will be an increasing chance of a shower developing as well."

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       It comes after Saturday saw gusts of 60mph at Needles Old Battery on the Isle of Wight, and the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for most of the south of England and there were a series of flood alerts.

       Between 9am and 3pm on Saturday, Evershot in Dorset recorded 30mm of rainfall, and Middle Wallop in Hampshire had 24.2mm in the same time period.

       A yellow wind warning is now in place for Sunday in the Shetland Islands, with gusts of up to 70mph expected to cause disruption to travel.

       Manchester will peak at around 14C today but the north of the UK is likely to get more rainfall throughout the day.

       Previous London Marathons have seen runners have collapse in the heat, with race organisers running out of water for competitors in 2018.

       Organisers scrambled lorries to top up water stations between miles eight and ten with emergency supplies but one runner said: “People are collapsing due to the heat.”

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       Crowds of athletes cross Tower Bridge during the Virgin Money London Marathon in London Credit: Getty 7

       A runner trudges through the rain and gale force winds on Eastbourne promenade, East Sussex Credit: jon santa cruz 7

       Hardy revellers braved the rain in Manchester last night Credit: LNP 7

       There were flash floods on the A47 Wandsford, Peterborough, on Saturday Credit: Terry Harris (THA)

       UK weather- Thunderstorms and 60mph gales to batter Britain for NINE HOURS today, Met Office warns