Weather and climate change

Headline:

Storm Goretti arriving on Thursday.

This Evening and Tonight:

Wintry showers becoming confined to northern coasts, with outbreaks of mainly light rain and snow in the west slowly moving east. Clear spells ahead of this allowing a widespread frost to develop and some patchy freezing fog.

Thursday:

Bright spells in the north but with some wintry showers. Turning wet and windy further south with snow, especially on hills. Severe gales later in the far southwest.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

Wind, rain and snow associated with Storm Goretti clearing eastwards on Friday. Mostly fine on Saturday. Frost early and late. Further wet and windy weather, with some snow arriving Sunday.

Updated: 16:00 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

This period carries much more uncertainty than usual as milder air from the Atlantic attempts to displace the cold air over the UK. On balance milder, or at least less cold conditions are likely to make some progress into the country by Monday, bringing a spell of snow for some areas, most likely central and northern parts with rain more likely across the south and west, before it either clears or dies out. Its uncertain as to whether these less cold conditions ever reach the extreme north and east, and here it may well remain cold throughout. Further into next week its likely to remain cold across the north and east, these colder condition possibly extending back into the rest of the country.

Updated: 14:00 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026

The outlook through the latter part of January and into the start of February is typically uncertain. A broadly southwesterly regime is marginally favoured bringing changeable conditions and spells of wet, windy and mild weather are likely, potentially with some very strong winds at times. However there is a chance that drier and colder conditions could extend into the UK from the east or northeast, along with a risk of some snow.

Updated: 15:00 (UTC) on Wed 7 Jan 2026