Weather and climate change

Headline:

Turning cooler over the next few days.

Today:

Dry for most places today with variable amounts of cloud and sunny spells. Showery outbreaks of rain in places, mainly in the north. Turning cold in the north

Tonight:

Cloud and patchy rain moving south tonight. but many places staying dry. Blustery showers in Scotland, turning wintry in the Northern Isles.

Wednesday:

Most places dry with patchy cloud and sunny spells. A few showers breaking out across Northern Ireland, Wales and southwest England. Temperatures below average for the time of year.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:

Largely dry at first with some sunny spells and fairly cool. Increasing chance of showers on Friday and rain possible in the south on Saturday. Turning warmer.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 5 May 2026

Initially, slowly-evolving weather patterns are expected in the vicinity of the UK, with low pressure over western Europe and high pressure building across or to the north of the UK. Whilst largely settled conditions are likely in northern areas, there may be some rain or showers across portions of England and Wales, which could be heavy and locally thundery. However, there is a slight chance these wetter conditions could remain over the nearby Continent. Deeper into next week and beyond, there may be a tendency for more widely unsettled conditions across the UK, with some rain or showers at times. Whilst some occasional warm days are possible, temperatures overall are likely to be near or below average, especially in the north, with an ongoing risk of overnight rural frost.

Updated: 13:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 4 May 2026

Low pressure systems are likely to dominate across the UK at the start of this period. This means showers or longer spells of rain are likely at times, heavy in places, with the wettest conditions probably towards the northwest. There will, however, probably be some dry and warm interludes, these more likely towards the south, although temperatures are likely to be close to normal overall. Later in the period, more settled and drier conditions may develop, as high pressure potentially establishes itself to the north or west of the UK, with temperatures perhaps rising a little above normal, especially in the west or northwest. Should this happen, eastern parts may be on the cool side with a predominant flow off the North Sea.

Updated: 14:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 4 May 2026