It comes after the Met Office forecast a ‘huge wall of rain’ will hit much of the UK this weekend

17:31, 30 Aug 2025Updated 17:31, 30 Aug 2025

The event ended 30 minutes early this afternoon(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)

Southport Air Show 2025 has been cut short as strong winds battered Merseyside on Saturday afternoon. It is understood the show ended around an hour earlier than planned on Saturday, August 30, the Liverpool Echo reports.

The RAF Typhoon was originally due to close the show at 4:25 pm, but this was brought forward to around 3:55pm, before the show actually ended just shy of 3pm – around an hour earlier than expected.

It comes after the family-friendly event also started 30 minutes earlier than planned, at noon today.

Thousands were in attendance for the first day of the event, with families enjoying an exciting mix of aircrafts, including the A-26 Invader, the L-39 Albatross, and the DH Vampire, which flew in from Norway.

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Spectators also got involved in a variety of entertainment on the ground, including bungee trampolines, bumper cars, and a military village showcasing vehicles from the armed forces.

The schedule change comes after the latest rainfall radar map issued by the Met Office shows a ‘huge wall of rain’ will hit much of the UK this weekend, as a record-breaking summer looks set to come to a wet and dreary end.

A “band of rain” is forecast to be moving eastwards through Saturday afternoon. It also said that heavy downpours and gusty winds would likely occur between 1pm and 4pm, but they are expected to ease later in the evening.

Organisers issued a statement ahead of today announcing a change to the flying schedule in line with the predicted weather. The statement said: “We’ve made a small change to Saturday’s programme.

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“To get ahead of the forecasted weather, the flying schedule will now begin 30 minutes earlier at 12 noon on Saturday, August 30.

“Make sure you arrive in good time to catch all the action and see our amazing aircraft take to the skies. Don’t miss a single moment of this unforgettable show.”

Tomorrow’s line-up for the Southport Airshow is as follows:

  • 12:47 – de Havilland Vampire FB.52
  • 12:57 – Extra 330 – Melanie Astles
  • 13:09 – RAF Tutor
  • 13:19 – Fairey Swordfish
  • 13:27 – Rolls Royce Spitfire XIX
  • 13:37 – Douglas A-26 Invader
  • 13:47 – Jet Pitts – Rich Goodwin
  • 14:00 – Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
  • 14:20 – The Starlings Aerobatic Team
  • 14:38 – Sea King helicopter
  • 14:51 – Jet Provost T5
  • 15:01 – Aerosuperbatics WingWalkers
  • 15:19 – L-39 Albatros
  • 15:29 – Great War Display Team
  • 15:44 – Team Raven
  • 16:02 – Strikemaster Pair
  • 16:16 – RAF Typhoon

Tickets are still available to purchase at £12 per person with under 16-year-olds free to attend.