Met Office weather: What's in store for the week ahead?

The week ahead brings a little something for everyone, with a mix of sunshine, showers, and varying temperatures across the UK.

While some will enjoy dry and bright spells, ideal for those on summer holidays, others will benefit from some much-needed rain, particularly in southern and eastern areas.

Low pressure dominates early in the week

As we begin the week, low pressure remains firmly in control, positioned directly over the UK. This setup means no sign of a heatwave, but rather a continuation of unsettled conditions. On Tuesday, western Scotland will see longer spells of rain, though not as intense as overnight showers. These will gradually fragment into the afternoon, spreading cloud and patchy rain into southern Scotland and northern England.

Elsewhere, showers will develop more widely as temperatures rise, with some warm sunshine breaking through. Highs are expected to reach the low to mid-20s Celsius. However, where showers do occur, they could be heavy and thundery, particularly in eastern areas.

Does the week ahead promise something more settled, or will you need to keep dodging the downpours?

Find out by taking a look at what the weather holds over the next 5 days 👇 pic.twitter.com/YzX2hYil3v
— Met Office (@metoffice) July 20, 2025

Midweek brings further showers and some sunshine

Wednesday follows a similar pattern. Sunny spells are likely, especially in the south and west, but an area of cloud and rain will move southwards across northern, central, and eastern England. This will be followed by further showers, some of which may be heavy, particularly in the south before becoming more focused towards the east later in the day. Temperatures will remain comparable to Tuesday.

A shift in pressure on Thursday

By Thursday, a subtle change in the weather pattern begins to emerge. As the low-pressure system slowly shifts eastwards, a ridge of high pressure starts to build in from the west. This introduces a west–east contrast in conditions.

Eastern parts of the UK, including the Midlands, East Anglia, and the southeast, may still see some showers or longer spells of rain during the morning and early afternoon. These will gradually break up into scattered showers, with the chance of the odd rumble of thunder. It will feel warm in the southeast, with highs around 25°C.

Further west, conditions will be drier and brighter, with increasing amounts of sunshine, particularly across Wales and the southwest.

Warmer and drier for some by Friday

Friday begins with cloud and patchy rain across western Scotland and Northern Ireland. This rain will be mostly light and intermittent. Drizzly conditions are also expected to reach West Wales and Cornwall by late afternoon.

Ahead of this, much of central and eastern England will enjoy a warmer day, with sunny spells and highs reaching up to 27°C in places such as the Midlands, East Anglia, and the southeast.

Weekend outlook: north–south split returns

As we head into the weekend, the jet stream begins to shift slightly northwards, though it remains close enough to influence the UK’s weather. This will reintroduce a north–south contrast.

Northern areas, including western Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northwest England, will continue to see low pressure systems bringing rain and breezy conditions. In contrast, southern parts of the UK will benefit from higher pressure, leading to more settled and warmer weather.

This week’s weather offers a varied mix across the UK. While some areas will see rain and cooler conditions, others can look forward to sunshine and warmth. Whether you're hoping for dry weather for outdoor plans or welcoming the rain for your garden, there’s a bit of something for everyone.

Keep up to date with weather warnings, and 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.

Weather: rain in a street