London weather is a mood. One minute you're admiring the sun glinting off the Shard, and the next, you’re wrestling an inside-out umbrella on London Bridge. If you are looking at the weather forecast for london 10 days out, you're likely seeing a lot of grey icons. But honestly, the icons never tell the full story of a London January.
Right now, we are in a weird tug-of-war. On one side, we have the Atlantic trying to shove mild, wet air across the M25. On the other, there’s a stubborn block of cold high pressure sitting over the continent, eyeing up the Thames like it wants to turn it into an ice rink.
The immediate outlook: Damp but not freezing
For the next few days, keep your coat on. We are looking at highs of about 9°C. That’s "warmer" for January, sure, but the humidity makes it feel like it's seeping into your bones.
Expect a lot of drizzle. It's that fine London mist that doesn't look like much until you realize your hair is ruined and your jacket is soaked through. Winds are staying relatively light, which is a mercy after the chaos Storm Goretti caused earlier this month. Remember those red warnings in Cornwall? London dodged the worst of that, but the ground is still saturated.
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Day-by-day breakdown (The "Best Guess" Phase)
- Thursday, Jan 15 - Friday, Jan 16: Mostly cloudy with some light rain. You've got highs of 9°C and lows around 5°C. It’s classic "Big Coat" weather.
- The Weekend (Jan 17-18): Things stay pretty consistent. We might see some morning fog that lingers around the parks. If you're heading to Richmond or Hampstead Heath, visibility will be rubbish until about 11 am.
- Monday, Jan 19 - Wednesday, Jan 21: This is where the "battle of the air masses" starts. Temperatures begin to dip slightly. We’re moving from 9°C down to about 7°C. The sky will be that flat, milky white color that London does so well.
Why the "10-day" mark is tricky right now
Here is the thing about a weather forecast for london 10 days in the future: confidence is low. Forecasters at the Met Office and BBC Weather are currently watching a "transition" period.
By the time we hit the end of next week—around January 23 to January 25—the cold air from the northeast might finally win. If it does, those 8°C days are history. We are looking at a drop toward 5°C or 6°C during the day, with overnight frosts becoming a regular occurrence.
The Sleet Situation
You might have seen headlines about snow. Everyone loves a snowy London photo for Instagram, but the reality is usually sleet.
The BBC is currently eyeing Monday, January 26, for potential sleet showers. Because London is a "heat island," snow often melts before it hits the pavement in Westminster, even if it’s sticking in Croydon or the North Downs. The difference between a "Winter Wonderland" and a "Slushy Mess" is often just $1^\circ C$.
Survival tips for the London chill
If you're visiting or just commuting, don't trust the "feels like" temperature on your phone. It’s usually optimistic.
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- Waterproof everything. A water-resistant trench won't cut it if you're walking from Waterloo to the City in a January downpour.
- Layer up. The Tube is a sauna. The street is a fridge. If you wear one massive jumper, you’ll sweat to death on the Northern Line. Wear a thin base layer, a sweater, and a windproof shell.
- Watch the fog. Flight delays at Heathrow and London City Airport are common when that cold air settles in. If you have a 7 am flight next week, check the boards before you leave the house.
The Big Picture
We are likely heading into a colder snap as we approach February. The Met Office long-range forecast suggests high pressure will dominate, which means fewer storms but more "bone-chilling" cold. It’s dry air, which is better for your umbrella, but tougher on your thermostat.
Actionable Next Steps:
Keep an eye on the Met Office rainfall radar rather than just the daily icon. In London, rain usually comes in "bands," meaning you can often find a 20-minute dry window to run for the bus if you time it right. If you are traveling towards the end of the 10-day window (Jan 24 onwards), pack thermal socks. The damp cold in London hits differently when you're standing on a drafty station platform.