Weather and climate change

Headline:

Showery outbreaks of rain moving northwards. Breezy.

Today:

Rain and hill snow across Scotland, clearing to sunny spells by the afternoon. A bright start elsewhere, but bands of showery rain soon pushing northwards through the morning, these continuing for many during the afternoon. Blustery winds for most.

Tonight:

A cloudy and breezy evening and night to come, with further showery rain for many. The rain heavy and persistent across southeast Scotland in particular.

Thursday:

Cloudy with further outbreaks of rain, though some brief drier and brighter interludes developing at times. Rain most persistent in eastern Scotland, with snow falling over the hills here too.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

Staying unsettled as we move into the weekend, with showers or longer spells of rain. Temperatures near average for many, but turning rather cold in the far north. Often windy.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Wed 21 Jan 2026

Weather systems moving in from the Atlantic will continue to attempt to push in from the west, but tending to stall in the vicinity of the UK as they encounter high pressure to the north and northeast. As a result, further spells of rain or showers are likely at times. These may be heavy and persistent, especially in the south and west, with the best of any drier interludes in the far north and northeast. Whilst mild conditions are expected to encroach into the south and southwest at times, it is likely to turn somewhat colder through this period, bringing the risk of some snow showers, most likely across hills in Scotland and northern England.

Updated: 14:00 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026

A similar theme is expected to continue as Atlantic frontal systems attempt to push eastwards at times. As the jet stream is slightly further south than normal, the wettest conditions are more likely in central and southern areas. North and northwestern parts of the UK are most likely to be drier than normal. Whilst mild incursions of wet and windy weather are favoured at times in the south and west, colder conditions in the north and northeast will bring associated wintry hazards where any precipitation attempts to spread in, especially on hills.

Updated: 15:00 (UTC) on Tue 20 Jan 2026