Weather and climate change

Headline:

Rather windy with rain spreading east. Heavy showers in northwest.

Today:

A band of rain, heavy in places, moves eastwards across England and Wales, reaching southeast England as just a brief period of light rain this evening. Otherwise sunny spells, with heavy and locally squally showers in the northwest. Rather windy.

Tonight:

Cloud and patchy rain clearing southeast England, then increasingly dry with clear periods for most. Blustery showers in northern areas, wintry on hills. Patchy frost with ice possible in north.

Wednesday:

A dry and bright day for most with periods of winter sunshine. Isolated showers are possible in the north and west, these wintry over northern hills at first. Feeling colder.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:

A sunny Thursday for many but isolated freezing fog patches may linger locally. Most places staying dry on Friday and Saturday albeit generally cloudier. Turning colder with widespread overnight frosts.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Tue 4 Feb 2025

High pressure will likely sit to the northeast of the UK during this period. Consequently, winds across many areas are likely to come from an easterly quadrant, with cold conditions likely, and there's even the possibility of some snow at times. Over the first weekend though, most places will be dry, if rather cloudy, with a few wintry showers possible near some southern and eastern coasts, but some sunshine elsewhere. During the following week, this theme continues, though the risk of wintry showers increases with a risk of some sleet or snow falling more widely for a time, but still with some sunshine in between. Temperatures will likely be a few degrees below average with some hard frosts and the wind may make it feel much colder at times.

Updated: 14:00 (UTC) on Mon 3 Feb 2025

It is most likely that high pressure to the east or northeast of the UK will dominate at first in some form or another, but there is a weak signal for a more unsettled and less-cold spell in the second half of the month, and into the start of March. Temperatures may be below average at first, with overnight frosts, but could return to near average or even rise a little above average later. Precipitation amounts are also likely to be below average at first, though a few wintry showers are possible, but may return to near-normal later, with a low probability of a much wetter period of weather developing.

Updated: 15:00 (UTC) on Mon 3 Feb 2025