Weather in the UK – forecast, data, and advice for drivers

Staying safe on the road starts with keeping informed on the latest weather in the UK.

Here, we bring you the latest updates from the Met Office alongside our own expert guidance to help you prepare for whatever the skies have in store for you.

Whether it’s sharp overnight frosts, persistent rain, strong winds, or blistering heat, changing conditions can have a real impact on how your car performs and how you should approach your journey.

As the weather shifts, so should your driving habits. From understanding how reduced visibility affects stopping distances to knowing when it’s best to delay a trip altogether, we’ll walk you through the key steps to stay safe and confident behind the wheel.

We’ll also highlight simple vehicle checks that make a significant difference in poor conditions, ensuring your car is ready to handle the elements.

Think of this driving in the UK guide as your go‑to companion for navigating the UK’s often unpredictable climate.

UK weather forecast

The week begins on a rather unsettled note, with Monday starting off grey and damp for much of the country. Many areas wake to low cloud, patchy drizzle and a generally dull atmosphere. Although the cloud cover is reluctant to shift, a few fleeting brighter moments may appear here and there. The southwest faces the most challenging conditions as a spell of heavy rain and strong winds moves in, raising the possibility of local flooding and some disruption to travel. Despite the dreary skies, it remains fairly mild across southern England, giving the day a slightly humid feel.

As Monday night sets in, the cloudy theme continues. Most places experience further outbreaks of rain, though the intense downpours and gusty winds in the southwest gradually ease as the night progresses. Elsewhere, it stays overcast with occasional drizzle, and temperatures remain steady, preventing any significant overnight chill or frost.

Tuesday brings another lacklustre start, with widespread cloud and more rain or drizzle lingering through the morning. Later in the day, a more organised band of heavy rain pushes into southern parts of the UK. Once this clears, brighter skies follow, offering some sunshine mixed with scattered showers. Further north and west, the cloud proves stubborn, keeping conditions damp and cool for much of the day and limiting any sunshine.

Through the middle of the week, the weather remains changeable. Many areas continue to see spells of rain and brisk winds, maintaining the unsettled pattern. By Friday, however, a shift in the weather begins to take hold as colder air moves down from the north. This brings clearer skies and a fresher feel, though it also introduces the chance of wintry showers. Snow is most likely in northern and eastern parts of the UK, particularly over higher ground, but a few flakes could reach lower levels if temperatures dip enough. The colder, brighter end to the week will feel like a noticeable contrast to the milder, cloudier start.

As the situation is likely to shift, it’s essential for people to stay updated with the latest forecasts and warnings from the Met Office and plan accordingly.

Sometimes, these weather forecasts mention storms in the UK. If so, it is important to check the latest data and make sure that your vehicle is in the best condition possible to drive in those conditions. In some cases, you should only travel when absolutely necessary.

UK weather in January 2026

January 2026 brought a long run of unsettled weather across the UK, with repeated bouts of heavy rain, storms, and strong winds.

According to Met Office data, Northern Ireland recorded its wettest January in 149 years, while southern England logged its sixth wettest since records began in 1836.

Overall, the UK saw more rain than average, slightly cooler temperatures, and typical levels of sunshine.

A steady stream of Atlantic low‑pressure systems kept the rain coming, following already wet conditions in November and December. With the ground saturated before the month even began, flooding became a recurring issue. Storms Goretti, Ingrid and Chandra all added to the disruption, leaving some communities still dealing with the aftermath as February arrived.

Across the UK, rainfall ended up 17% above the long‑term January average. Northern Ireland stood out with an extraordinary 70% increase, while England as a whole saw 50% more rain than usual. The contrast between regions was stark as northern England was only slightly wetter than average, but southern England was hit with 74% more rain, making it one of its wettest Januarys on record.

Scotland was the only nation to come in below average overall, though eastern areas were notably wetter than usual.

Several counties in the UK experienced record‑breaking rainfall, including Cornwall and County Down, while others saw their second wettest January on record. Individual weather stations also smashed daily rainfall records, particularly during Storm Chandra on 26 January.

Temperatures lifted later in the month, but January still finished slightly cooler than average (~0.5°C). Sunshine levels were also close to normal for most of the UK, with Scotland the only nation falling noticeably short.

Should I drive today?

Yes, you can drive today, but it’s important to stay alert and adapt to the conditions around you.

Weather can shift quickly, and even small changes can affect visibility and road surfaces.

It is important to give yourself extra time, keep your speed steady, and stay aware of any sudden rain or wind.

It’s a good day to travel as long as you remain cautious and responsive to whatever the weather brings.

Will it be safe to drive tomorrow?

Yes, driving tomorrow should be fine, but it is wise to approach the journey with a bit of extra awareness.

Weather conditions can shift without much warning, and even small changes can influence how the roads feel under your tyres.

Keep an eye on the sky, allow more time than usual, and stay responsive to any patches of rain or sudden drops in visibility.

As long as you remain attentive and adjust your driving to whatever develops, travelling tomorrow should be perfectly manageable.

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Driving advice for upcoming weather forecast

With colder air moving in and the risk of snow, ice and strong winds increasing, drivers should take extra care on every journey.

Wintry conditions can reduce grip, extend stopping distances and make roads unpredictable.

A few simple precautions can make a significant difference to your safety and confidence on the road:

• Slow down and leave extra space to account for reduced traction on icy or snowy surfaces.
• Check tyres, lights and windscreen wipers before setting off, ensuring your car is ready for poor visibility and slippery roads.
• Plan your routes carefully, favouring main roads that are more likely to be gritted.
• Pack winter breakdown essentials such as warm clothing, a torch and a fully charged phone in case of delays.
• Avoid unnecessary trips during severe weather warnings, especially when snow and ice are expected overnight. RAC Drive’s winter driving section has many helpful guides on the best practices and car maintenance to do during these colder months.

Q4 2025 summary: UK weather (Sep-Nov)

The data from GOV.UK paints a picture of a consistently warmer than usual late summer and autumn across the UK.

In November 2025, the daily average temperature reached 8.2°C, placing it noticeably above both the same month in 2024 and the long‑term seasonal norm.

This warmth was reflected in the relatively low number of heating degree days, suggesting that households needed less heating than would typically be expected for the time of year.

Looking across the rolling three‑month periods, the same pattern of elevated temperatures continues.

From September to November 2025, the average temperature was 11.3°C, slightly higher than the equivalent period a year earlier.

The August to October 2025 period followed this trend, with an average temperature of 14.4°C, again warmer than the previous year.

The warmest of the periods, July to September 2025, recorded an average temperature of 16.6°C, a full degree higher than the same stretch in 2024.

Taken together, these figures show a clear and consistent pattern meaning that temperatures were higher across all recent periods compared with the previous year.

Average temperatures in the UK

Data from the Met Office shows a sustained pattern of warmer conditions across most months of the year from 2022 to 2025 when compared with the 30‑year long‑term mean average.

Although individual months fluctuate, the overall picture is one of persistent warmth, with only a few brief returns to cooler‑than‑average conditions.

Across the winter months, temperatures generally sit above the long‑term mean, though with some notable exceptions. January 2025 stands out as unusually cool, falling 1.2°C below the long‑term average, in contrast to the modestly warmer Januaries of the previous three years.

February, however, shows the opposite pattern with all four years being warmer than the long‑term mean, with 2024 particularly striking at 2.5°C above average.

March follows a similar trajectory, with each year from 2022 to 2025 registering temperatures above the long‑term norm.

Spring and early summer continue this warm trend. April and May are consistently warmer than the long‑term mean in most years, with May 2024 especially warm at 2°C above average.

June shows more variability as 2023 and 2025 are notably warm, while 2024 dips slightly below the long‑term mean.

The summer months reveal a mix of warmth and occasional coolness. July 2022 and 2025 are significantly warmer than average, while 2023 and 2024 fall slightly below.

August follows a similar pattern, with 2022 and 2025 warmer than the long‑term mean and 2023 and 2024 closer to average.

September shows the widest swings. This is because 2023 is markedly warm at 2.3°C above average, while 2024 and 2025 fall slightly below.

Autumn months generally remain warmer than the long‑term mean, though the degree of warmth varies.

October is consistently above average across all years, while November fluctuates more, with 2023 and 2024 close to the long‑term mean and 2022 and 2025 noticeably warmer. December shows the greatest variability, ranging from 1.2°C below average in 2022 to 2.1°C above in 2024.

When grouped into seasonal and annual periods, the pattern becomes even clearer. Every seasonal period from January–March through July–September shows temperatures at or above the long‑term mean in most years.

The April to June period is consistently warm, with 2025 standing out at 1.7°C above average. Even the full‑year averages from 2022 to 2024 remain above the long‑term mean, though the degree of warmth gradually narrows from 0.9°C above in 2022 to 0.6°C above in 2024.

The overall trend points toward a climate that is consistently warmer than the long‑term baseline, with 2025 continuing that pattern despite a few isolated dips.

Average rainfall in the UK

The 2025 rainfall pattern shows a year marked by sharp swings between wetter and drier than average months.

Early in the year, January, March and April were notably dry, each falling well below recent levels, while February stands out as relatively close to the previous years.

Summer provided mixed results, as June was wetter than in earlier years, while July and August fall back into deficit.

By autumn, the pattern shifts again, as September and November turned out to be wetter than the previous two years. October remained closer to recent norms.

Overall, 2025 reflects a year of irregular rainfall, alternating between pronounced dry spells and short, intense wet periods.

When compared with 2022, 2023 and 2024, the contrasts become clearer. Several months in 2025 are significantly drier than the same months in earlier years, particularly January, March and April, which fall far below the levels recorded in 2022 and 2024.

At the same time, months such as June, September and November show a reversal, becoming wetter than in the preceding two years.

The year lacks the extreme peaks seen in 2024, such as the exceptionally wet August, but also avoids some of the deep deficits recorded in 2023.

Instead, 2025 sits between the extremes, marked by volatility rather than sustained wet or dry periods.

Against the 20‑year mean, 2025 leans noticeably dry overall. Many months fall below the long‑term average, especially January, March, April and August, which show substantial deficits.

Only a few months, most notably June, September and November, rise above the long‑term norm.

2025 as a whole reinforces a broader trend toward greater variability, with rainfall increasingly characterised by abrupt departures from the long‑term baseline.

Types of UK weather warnings

There are three different types of weather warning that are issued by the Met Office in the UK:

Yellow weather warning

A yellow warning signals that disruptive weather is possible, and while conditions may not be severe for everyone, they can still catch people off guard.

It encourages extra awareness when driving and out in pubic - and everyone should be checking local weather forecasts more often.

Planning any journeys is important as you may need to be flexible, and be prepared for delays.

The impacts of these warnings tend to be limited and localised, but sudden changes, like brief heavy rain, gusty winds or icy patches, can still create hazards for drivers.

Amber weather warning

An amber warning indicates a higher likelihood of severe weather with more significant impacts to drivers and the wider public.

Travel disruption becomes more probable, and essential services may be affected - including local transport.

Drivers are advised to think carefully about their plans, adjust routines, and take steps to protect themselves, their vehicles. and their property.

Conditions under an amber warning can develop quickly, bringing intense rainfall, strong winds, heavy snow or extreme heat.

Therefore, it is a signal that the weather could meaningfully affect daily life, and preparation is strongly encouraged - especially if you absolutely need to get behind the wheel.

Red weather warning

A red warning represents the most serious level of weather alert in the UK, and is only issued when dangerous conditions are expected and there is a clear risk to life.

People are urged to avoid travel, stay indoors where possible, and follow official guidance closely.

Staying up to date with the latest news is vital.

A red warning is rare and reserved for the most extreme events, emphasising the need for immediate action and maximum caution to stay safe.

It is strongly advised to avoid any kind of driving in these conditions.