As we head into the final weekend of January, the UK faces a rather mixed spell of weather with rain, cloudy skies and a few brighter intervals in places.
The broader pattern driving our conditions remains firmly set: low pressure sits close to the UK, and the jet stream is currently positioned further south than normal. This combination continues to draw areas of rain across the country, although the influence of these systems weakens slightly through the weekend.
Despite some improvements for parts of the south and west, the weather overall will feel fairly grey and cool, with limited sunshine and patchy rain at times. Here’s what to expect over the weekend.
Saturday: cloudy and damp, with rain lingering in the southeast
Saturday begins under the influence of a weakening area of low-pressure which has, over recent days, delivered periods of heavy rainfall across southern parts of the UK. The ground remains saturated in many areas, particularly in the south, so any additional rain could lead to surface water issues. Although the most persistent rain is expected to ease through the morning, the southeast is likely to hold on to outbreaks of rain well into the afternoon. A yellow weather warning for rain will remain in place until 6am.
⚠️ Yellow weather warning issued ⚠️
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 29, 2026
Rain across southwest England
Friday 0900 – Saturday 0600
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Across Wales and the southwest of England, conditions should gradually improve, with the rain becoming less organised and easing. Many places here may see drier intervals developing by midday, although skies will remain largely overcast. While the improvement will be welcome, it is unlikely to feel particularly bright, as stubborn cloud cover dominates.
Further north and east, including eastern Scotland and northeast England, a north‑to‑north-westerly breeze will feed in cloud and patchy drizzle. These areas will feel damp and rather raw, with occasional hill snow possible over the highest ground in Scotland. The air mass here is cool, and without sunshine to lift temperatures, it will feel colder than the numbers on the thermometer suggest.
For western Scotland, northwest England and parts of Northern Ireland, Saturday should bring a mostly dry day. However, this dryness comes at the price of extensive cloud, so conditions will still feel rather dull.
Temperature‑wise, values will sit close to late‑January averages. Expect highs of around 7–10°C, although the northerly breeze will add a chill, especially in eastern and southern parts of the UK.
Sunday: mostly dry with occasional drizzle in the east
By Sunday, the low-pressure that influenced Saturday’s weather continues to weaken and move away. A weak frontal system will try to push in from the west later in the day, but for many it will be a noticeably drier and more settled day than Saturday.
READ MORE: Storm Chandra: How the storm unfolded and where the heaviest rain fell
Scotland’s east coast and the far northeast of England will again see cloud feeding in from the North Sea, bringing occasional drizzle. While not heavy, this will contribute to a persistent sense of damp and gloom. The weak front approaching northern and western Scotland may bring some light, patchy rain to the Western Isles and briefly across parts of Northern Ireland, but amounts of rainfall will be small.
For England and Wales, Sunday offers the best chance of drier weather. A good portion of southern England, in particular, should remain dry throughout the day with only limited risk of showers. There is also a small chance of cloud thinning in places, allowing brief glimpses of brightness or even some patches of blue sky. Where this happens, it will feel marginally more pleasant, even if only for short periods.
Temperatures are again expected to remain near average for the time of year, ranging from 7–10°C. Some locations could be a degree or so higher if a bit of brightness does emerge, though the overall theme remains cool and cloudy.
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