With the final full weekend of January approaching, conditions across the UK look set to remain unsettled for many of us.
Lingering low pressure near the southwest of England will continue to influence our weather, bringing further spells of rain, brisk winds and a generally grey picture.
However, there will be some regional contrasts, including snowfall over higher ground in Scotland and occasional brighter interludes in the west.
Saturday: cold in the northeast, wet in the south‑west
Low pressure will remain close to the southwest of England through Saturday, gradually weakening but still influential enough to bring further wet and windy weather, particularly during the morning. Rain bands wrapped around this system will push into Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset and parts of Wales, delivering spells of persistent rain and some heavier showery outbreaks. Several yellow weather warnings are in place.
Across eastern Scotland, a separate area of persistent precipitation will continue to affect the region. At lower levels, this will fall as significant rain, but above 300m the colder air in place will mean a lot of this falls as snow. This will make travel challenging in these areas, and conditions may deteriorate rapidly as snowfall increases.
The wind will be another notable feature on Saturday. Coastal gales are likely in the far north‑east and at least initially in the far southwest. Elsewhere, brisk winds will feed into the widespread cloud cover, making conditions feel raw, particularly where rain is persistent.
READ MORE: How the Met Office forecasts space weather and why it matters
In between the areas of most significant rainfall, some parts of the country will escape the worst of the wet weather. Western Scotland and parts of East Anglia may see the best chance of drier intervals with occasional cloud breaks. However, these brighter spells will be limited, and for most places the day will remain grey, breezy and at times damp.
Temperature‑wise, the contrast between regions will become increasingly apparent. Cold air from Scandinavia will continue to push into the northeast of the UK, making it feel especially chilly across eastern Scotland. Further south, temperatures will be closer to average but, combined with the wind and frequent outbreaks of rain, it will still feel rather unpleasant outdoors.
By Saturday night, the low pressure system to the southwest will once again push further areas of rain into the region, setting the stage for another unsettled day on Sunday.
Sunday: more rain for many, further snow in Scotland
Sunday will begin on an unsettled note as a band of rain moves across northern England, much of Northern Ireland, and central and southern Scotland. This band is expected to slow down and fragment somewhat, but it will leave behind a zone of persistent wet weather across parts of central and eastern Scotland. As colder air continues to filter into the northeast, precipitation over the Scottish hills may once again turn to snow, adding to existing accumulations.
Further south, another pulse of rain will sweep into the southwest of England early in the day. This will move into central parts of the country as the day progresses. Behind this feature, lively showers are likely to follow across southern and southwestern counties. These showers may be heavy at times and could be accompanied by gusty winds.
READ MORE: 10‑day trend: A battle between Atlantic systems and colder air to the northeast
Despite widespread cloud cover, a few regions stand a better chance of experiencing brief cloud breaks or drier periods. Western Scotland may again fare reasonably well with some brighter intervals, and parts of Northern Ireland could also see some improvements through the afternoon. However, for the majority, Sunday will be another predominantly grey and damp day, with limited sunshine and plenty of unsettled weather still in play.
Temperatures will continue a similar trend to Saturday. The east of Scotland will feel particularly cold in the persistent breeze, with the continued influx of colder air from the northeast. Across England and Wales, temperatures will remain closer to seasonal averages, though the combination of wind, showers and general lack of brightness will reduce the sense of any warmth.
Even so, there will be occasional drier spells across the weekend, offering brief opportunities for outdoor plans in between bands of rainfall.
You can find the latest forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store.
