Weather and climate change

Headline:

Showery outbreaks of rain moving northwards. Breezy.

This Evening and Tonight:

Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain or showers for many. The rain will become heavy and persistent across parts of northeast Scotland, where a yellow rain warning is in force. Widely windy with coastal gales across Orkney and Shetland.

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 north. Often windy.

Updated: 16:00 (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, most likely across hills in Scotland and northern England, but perhaps extending to other areas with time.

Updated: 14:00 (UTC) on Wed 21 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 Wed 21 Jan 2026