Wednesday 21st January 2026

More rain on the way, and probably colder next week.

Thanks to Lucinda for the photograph…a rain photograph, which makes me happy that I have something that matches the forecast!

So the general overview sees low pressure close to the south-west of the UK, struggling to get much further than the UK and hence being squeezed further south than normal, due to the blocking high over much of Europe and Scandinavia.

Tonight sees showery outbreaks of rain, some heavy, some light – was quite soaked getting back from work in London this evening. No lower than around 9’C and breezy.

Thursday (my birthday!) starts cloudy with showery rain. Some limited brightness from mid-morning onwards but plenty of showers, some heavy will also continue through the day. Around 10’C and breezy. Reasonably clear skies for a time overnight, clouding over later – a shower possible. Down to around 5’C.

Friday morning sees the next band of rain move up from the south, mostly light/moderate rain. Some sunny spells possible for a time in the afternoon, though further showers will remain very possible. Around 9’C and becoming windy later. The low pressure system actually turns back into the Atlantic overnight – but it will still remain mostly cloudy, some occasional showery rain – and down to around 5’C.

By Saturday low pressure should have moved sufficiently west to keep most of the rain away from us – and it should be an…ok day. Some reasonably spells of sunshine, variable amounts of cloud, breezy – perhaps a shower or two, more likely earlier in the day. Around 9’C. A bit of uncertainty as low pressure systems tend not to curve back into the Atlantic, so don’t be shocked if it is somewhat cloudier with some rain instead. Some showers probable overnight, low confidence – around 5’C.

More likely, Sunday is again a cloudier day with some showery rain at times, and around 9’C.

By Monday we start to see colder air filtering back west, but further low pressure systems trying to push in from the west.

Details from here are pretty impossible though. If the cold air gets far enough west during Sunday night into Monday, then the next weather front could be a rain/snow mixture on Tuesday.

However, it might not get far across at all – in which case it will definitely be rain, and might arrive on Monday.

Really is a 50/50 chance. Certainly the chances of a cold spell next week are significantly reduced from when I previously wrote on Sunday…I assume due to the jetstream being fired up over the US due to their cold plunge, though I’ve been too busy this week to really look into anything outside our corner of the globe.

Broadly speaking next week is finely balanced between being somewhat colder than normal, with rain at times and possible sleet/snow mixed in, or somewhat milder, again with rain at times.

A bit rushed this forecast…I’ll have time properly on Sunday morning to update.