Weather and climate change

Headline:

An unsettled week ahead.

Today:

Cloudy today with some ice and fog patches at first. Outbreaks of light rain and drizzle are possible for most today. Spells of rain will be heavier in the northeast with hill snow in Scotland. Turning breezy through the day.

Tonight:

Rain will spread into southern England and Wales this evening, with local flooding possible. Spells of rain and mainly hill snow continuing in the northeast. A windy night for many.

Tuesday:

Remaining cloudy and windy with outbreaks of rain for many, turning heavy at times. Further hill snow in northeast Scotland, and to lower levels in the Northern Isles. Feeling cold.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:

Remaining unsettled with showers or longer spells of heavy rain affecting most areas, coupled with brisk winds at times. Brighter in the south on Wednesday, but colder further north later.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Mon 2 Feb 2026

Frontal systems over the Atlantic, steered by a south-shifted jet stream, are likely to approach the UK at times, but tending to stall as they encounter a blocking area of high pressure to the north and northeast. This will result in further spells of rain at times, falling in areas already sensitive to flooding. As these bands of rain spread northwards, some snow will be possible in northern England and Scotland, mainly over higher ground, as they encounter colder air. A subtle shift southwards of these areas of low pressure is anticipated during the second week of February, which may allow a greater chance of colder air to spread across larger parts of the UK, including the south, bringing an increased risk of wintry hazards for a time.

Updated: 14:00 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026

Whilst confidence is lower through this period, a south-shifted jet stream is likely to persist for much of the time, steering areas of low pressure towards and south of the UK. This is likely to bring further spells of wet and windy weather, with rain most frequent in the south and west, and perhaps also eastern Scotland, with the driest conditions, relative to normal, in northwest Scotland. Some hill snow will be possible at times as the wet weather encounters colder air across northern parts of the UK. Temperatures for the period as a whole will likely be close to average for most parts, but perhaps a little below in the northeast.

Updated: 15:00 (UTC) on Sun 1 Feb 2026