Weather and climate change

Headline:

Turning much colder with widespread frost. Some snow and ice.

Today:

Patchy rain and hill snow clear southwards through the day, followed by sunny spells from the north. Northern Scotland sees frequent snow showers with significant accumulations over the hills. Strong to gale-force winds affect northern and eastern areas. Cold everywhere.

Tonight:

Clear skies for many with an early frost. Snow showers persist in the north, while sleet and snow spreads south across Northern Ireland into parts of England and Wales later.

Friday:

Patchy rain, sleet, and snow move south across England and Wales Friday morning. Snow showers in the north becoming more widespread, especially in areas exposed to the brisk northerly wind.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Often cold and sunny with severe overnight frosts. Snows showers continue to affect many areas exposed to the brisk northerly wind. Risk of more organised sleet and snow at times.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Thu 1 Jan 2026

Cold northerly winds dominant across the UK in the first week of January bring wintry showers (often of snow) to many coastlines (and areas just inland of these) that are exposed to onshore winds. Into the new week more coherent bands of precipitation and thicker cloud will attempt to move in from the west, with a risk of further snow on the leading edge of these turning to rain. Confidence is low in the rate of this return to a more mild Atlantic flow, with a risk of further artic airflows following fronts to resume wintry showers, especially across northern areas of the UK. Temperatures recovering to just below average for most, though further north more likely to return cold at times.

Updated: 14:00 (UTC) on Wed 31 Dec 2025

Whilst confidence in details is low, by the start of this period the transition back to westerly winds bringing Atlantic weather systems into the UK is expected to be complete, with temperatures most likely recovering to around or just below average. There is perhaps a weak signal for slowly evolving weather patterns to be more favoured than normal, such patterns increase the chances of frost and fog above normal by night.

Updated: 15:00 (UTC) on Wed 31 Dec 2025