A slow‑moving low to the east will draw down a distinctly northerly airflow across the UK through the weekend, bringing a noticeable drop in temperatures and a markedly different feel compared with recent days.
Saturday and Sunday are likely to be the coldest pair of days so far this season, not unusual for the time of year but a clear step change nonetheless. Expect a chilly start on Saturday, with some spots down in the mid to low single figures, and a cold feel in the wind throughout the day.
Saturday: Bracing northerlies, sunshine and showers
Winds will be the main story on Saturday, especially across the far north of Scotland and along North Sea coasts, where gusts in exposed locations may approach gale force. Many areas will see a brisk, blustery feel. The northerly will also steer frequent showers into the north and west, with Northern Ireland, northern Scotland, Wales and the southwest most prone.
Upland parts of northern Scotland are likely to see some of those showers turning to snow; this is not out of the ordinary for late October. Away from showers, many places will see brighter spells and good autumnal sunshine.
How it will feel: Wind chill a factor
Although thermometers will show modest daytime values, the wind will make it feel notably colder, more akin to a typical December day than an October one. The combination of strong breezes and incoming, colder air means it will feel raw in exposed spots through daylight hours.
Temperatures will be below average through the remainder of the week, dipping further this weekend, with a chance of some frost in prone spots overnight 📉 pic.twitter.com/bIwVLn9x36
— Met Office (@metoffice) October 23, 2025
Saturday night: Staying cold as the pattern evolves
Through Saturday night, low pressure remains to the east and higher pressure sits to the west, keeping the northerly flow going. Later in the night, the next Atlantic low begins to topple in from the northwest. With the air still cold, it will remain a chilly night overall before the next system starts to influence the weather on Sunday.
Sunday: Bright start for many, then rain spreads from the northwest
Sunday morning looks the best part of the day for many central and eastern areas, with plenty of sunshine to begin with. Eastern Scotland and the east of England may hold on to brighter skies into the afternoon. Elsewhere, cloud will increase, with a few early showers followed by a band of more persistent rain arriving around lunchtime for Northern Ireland, Scotland and western fringes of England and Wales.
Over the highest Scottish peaks, a few flakes of snow are possible again, but for most it will simply turn increasingly wet. It will continue to feel cold, with many places struggling to reach double figures, though as the frontal system pushes in across the northwest, temperatures there will begin to edge up.
Regional picture: Where the showers will focus
Through the weekend, the showery regime is favoured across windward coasts and hills exposed to the northerly: Northern Ireland, northern Scotland, Wales and the southwest remain the most frequent targets. The strongest winds are expected in the far north of Scotland and along North Sea coasts, where exposed headlands could see near‑gale conditions at times. In contrast, sheltered central and eastern areas will enjoy longer sunny intervals between showers on Saturday and a brighter start on Sunday before cloud thickens from the northwest.
READ MORE: Met Office: 10-day trend: Changeable weather, colder air, and a hint of snow
Temperatures and feel‑like conditions
Saturday’s raw feel will be accentuated by wind chill, making conditions feel several degrees lower than the actual readings. On Sunday, despite a gradual uptick in temperatures in the northwest as rain arrives, many places elsewhere are likely to remain on the chilly side, with double‑digit values proving elusive for some through the afternoon. The overall impression both days is of a colder, breezier spell, noticeable after the milder, duller conditions of last weekend.
Early next week: Turning more changeable
As the north-westerly system clears in, the broader pattern pivots towards a more changeable setup next week. Rain and stronger winds will be most frequent in the northwest, with relatively drier intervals farther southeast at times. This marks a transition away from the weekend’s direct northerly to a more typical, mobile Atlantic regime.
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