What is the weather like today in the UK?
Today will be mostly cloudy with occasional patchy rain developing, particularly across western areas. Cloud may break to allow some sunshine in parts of southeast England and eastern Scotland, providing brief relief from the overcast conditions.
As the day progresses into the evening, tonight will remain largely cloudy and may become quite murky, especially in southern and eastern regions. Patchy rain is expected to reach Northern Ireland and western Scotland by morning, indicating a continuation of the unsettled weather pattern.
What has led to this weather situation?
This current weather scenario follows a long run of unsettled conditions across the UK in January 2026, which brought repeated bouts of heavy rain, storms, and strong winds. Notably, January saw a 17% increase in rainfall above the long-term average, with Northern Ireland experiencing a 70% increase and southern England a 74% increase.
As we look ahead, tomorrow will see most places experiencing another cloudy day, with rain in the west moving eastward and weakening. From Wednesday to Friday, the weather is expected to turn increasingly changeable, bringing showers or longer periods of rain.
What can we expect in the coming days?
Temperatures should stay close to normal for this time of year, although they are projected to turn colder by Friday. Additionally, it is likely to be windy at times, which may exacerbate the already unsettled conditions.
Overall, the weather today reflects a broader trend of increased precipitation and variability that has characterized the winter of 2025/26, with the mean temperature in England recorded at 5.7 degrees Celsius, which is cooler than average.