Turning colder and wetter this week
Author: Met Office
11:31 (UTC) on Mon 23 Mar 2026
Conditions turn colder and wetter this week, as more unsettled weather spreads across the UK following last week’s early taste of spring.
After the UK recorded its warmest day of the year so far last week – reaching 20.9°C in Wales on Wednesday – temperatures will fall this week, bringing the risk of frost and ice for some.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Steven Keates said: “After a spell of mild and brighter weather, the UK will turn increasingly unsettled in the coming days. A series of weather fronts will bring periods of rain, strong winds and much colder air by midweek. Wednesday could be quite a shock to the system.
“Temperatures will range from 6°C to 10°C, but it will feel closer to low single figures for many areas in the wind. Wintry showers are likely, especially over higher ground in the north, and a widespread frost – with icy patches for some – is possible on Wednesday night. It should be a little milder again by the end of the week, with many areas seeing another spell of rain on Friday.”
A dry afternoon with hazy sunshine for most
— Met Office (@metoffice) March 23, 2026
Turning wet and windy across Scotland with the risk of coastal gales
Staying warm for the time of year pic.twitter.com/4NwlxgLUdj
Today, a ridge of high pressure keeps things mostly fine in England and Wales with hazy sunshine. Scotland will see some cloud and rain though, with strengthening winds and the potential for coastal gales.
Tuesday looks to be a wet and windy day for many, with heavy, persistent rain across parts of northern England and Wales. Blustery showers move into Scotland and Northern Ireland, with hail and thunder possible, as well as wintry showers over higher ground.
Turning markedly colder from Wednesday
By Wednesday, it will feel markedly colder across all parts, with rain, sleet and hail showers potentially quite widely, and snow likely over higher ground in the north. Elsewhere, it will be a blustery day and although there is some sunshine on offer, it will feel cold thanks to the wind chill. Temperatures will fall overnight – potentially to -5°C in rural Scotland – with a widespread frost overnight likely for most, and ice at first in the north on Thursday morning.
Most places remain dry with sunny spells on Thursday, although cloud and rain pushes into Northern Ireland and western parts later on.
Temperatures return closer to average from Friday onwards, though further weather systems may affect the UK at the weekend, most likely affecting northern areas.
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