Weather and climate change

Headline:

Drier for many today, but further rain arrives later.

Today:

Rather cloudy across the far south with patchy rain spreading north later on. Otherwise, apart from a few wintry showers in the north it will be a bright but cold start, however rain will move into northwestern areas by lunchtime.

Tonight:

Rain, heavy at times, moving east but potentially falling as snow to lower levels briefly across the north. Clear spells and some showers following behind in the west.

Thursday:

A mix of sunshine and showers across northern areas. Further south cloud and rain, heavy at times, will gradually spread north, with winds strengthening later across the southeast.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

Wind and rain clearing to the northeast on Friday with sunshine and showers following. Showery rain continuing on Saturday before becoming more isolated on Sunday. Temperatures around average for most.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Wed 14 Jan 2026

Slow evolving weather patterns in the vicinity of the UK are most favoured through this period, with low pressure often to the west or southwest and high pressure near or over Scandinavia. Areas of rain or showers will attempt to push into some western and southwestern parts of the UK in particular, but possibly making limited eastwards progress. Longer, drier interludes are most likely in the east and northeast, though potentially rather cloudy at times. A gradual trend towards colder conditions is most likely through this period, especially in the south and east. As such, whilst wintry precipitation will be more reserved for hills initially, this may become more likely to lower levels later in the period.

Updated: 14:00 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026

Initially, slowly evolving weather patterns are most likely in the vicinity of the UK, with low pressure typically to the west or southwest and high pressure to the northeast. This configuration brings an increased chance of cold conditions affecting parts of the UK, and the associated risk of wintry hazards at times. Deeper into February, and whilst confidence is naturally rather low, there may be a transition to more widely unsettled conditions and perhaps a corresponding recovery in temperature back closer to average.

Updated: 15:00 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026