You've probably heard the old joke about London weather. If you don't like it, just wait ten minutes. But when you’re trying to plan your life—whether that’s a commute across the City or a weekend trek to Richmond Park—ten minutes isn't exactly helpful. You need to know if the next fortnight is going to be a washout or a rare window of winter sun.
Honestly, the london weather forecast two weeks out is currently looking like a classic British tug-of-war. On one side, we have the Atlantic trying to shove mild, wet air into the capital. On the other, there’s a stubborn block of high pressure from the east that’s threatening to turn everything frosty.
The immediate outlook: Damp and dreary
Right now, as of mid-January 2026, London is under the thumb of a low-pressure system. If you looked out your window this morning, you probably saw a sky the color of a wet sidewalk.
The Met Office has already issued yellow rain warnings for the south today, January 15. We're talking heavy downpours that make the M25 a nightmare and leave the Underground entrances smelling like damp wool. Temperatures are hovering around 9°C or 10°C, which isn't freezing, but the humidity makes it feel like the cold is seeping into your bones.
Expect this trend to hold for the next few days.
Friday and Saturday (January 16-17) aren't bringing much of a reprieve. It's mostly light rain and "gentle breezes." In London-speak, that means you'll probably carry an umbrella all day, use it for three minutes, and then leave it on the bus. Highs will stay near 10°C with lows around 6°C.
Mid-range shift: The "Scandinavian High"
Around Monday, January 19, things start to get interesting.
Meteorologists like Alex Burkill have been tracking a "Scandinavian High." It sounds like a fancy furniture store, but it’s actually a massive area of high pressure. There's about a 44% chance this system will park itself over the UK. If it wins the battle against the Atlantic air, the rain will stop.
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But there is a catch.
High pressure in winter usually means clearer skies, which sounds great until you realize those clear skies let all the heat escape. By Wednesday, January 21, we might finally see some "sunny intervals." It’ll be the first day in over a week where you won't necessarily need a raincoat, but you'll definitely need those touchscreen gloves.
The big question: Will it actually snow?
Everyone wants to know about the white stuff.
London is notoriously bad at handling snow. Two inches of slush can bring the Waterloo & City line to a grinding halt. Looking at the models for the tail end of January—specifically around January 25 to January 28—the "mercury," as the tabloids love to call it, is going to dip.
BBC Weather is currently flagging a four-day window of sleet starting Sunday, January 25.
Temperatures will likely struggle to get above 5°C during the day, dropping to a crisp 1°C or 2°C at night. While advanced maps from WXCharts have been teasing "blizzards" and "wall of snow" scenarios for the UK, the "heat island" effect usually protects central London. Basically, all those concrete buildings and idling black cabs keep the city a few degrees warmer than the suburbs.
If you're in zone 4 or 5, you might see a dusting. If you're in Soho? It’ll probably just be very cold rain.
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Breaking down the two-week numbers
To make this easier to digest, here is how the next 14 days are likely to play out across the capital.
Week One: The Washout Phase
From now through January 20, expect daily highs of 9°C to 10°C. It is going to be cloudy, overcast, and intermittently wet. Monday, January 19, looks particularly grey. It’s the kind of weather where you never quite feel dry.
The Transition: January 21
This is the "hinge" day. Currently, it’s the only day in the 14-day stretch with a solid "sunny" icon. Highs of 8°C, lows of 3°C. If you have errands to run that involve being outside, this is your window.
Week Two: The Cold Snap
From January 22 onwards, the wind shifts. We’re moving from "mild and wet" to "cold and damp."
- Jan 22-24: Drizzle and light winds, temps dropping to 6°C.
- Jan 25-28: Sleet is the main risk. Daytime highs of 5°C, with night-time lows flirting with 0°C.
Why you shouldn't trust the 14-day map 100%
Forecasts are just math.
Chaos theory tells us that a small change in wind direction over the Atlantic today can completely flip the forecast for next Tuesday. When you look at a london weather forecast two weeks out, you're looking at "ensemble modeling." Forecasters run the same simulation 50 times with tiny changes. If 40 of those simulations show rain, they tell you it’s going to rain.
Right now, the "spread" for late January is wide. Some models show a return to mild 12°C weather, while others suggest a genuine "Beast from the East" scenario. The Met Office is leaning toward "uncertain but potentially colder."
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Actionable steps for Londoners
Since we know it’s going to be wet first and then cold later, here is the move.
First, check your footwear. If your boots have a hole in the sole, the next five days will find it. This isn't the week for suede.
Second, if you're a gardener, the frost toward the end of next week (around Jan 24) might be the first real "hard" frost for a while. Protect anything tender.
Third, keep an eye on the "Feels Like" temperature rather than the actual number. A 5°C day in London with 90% humidity and a breeze feels significantly colder than a 0°C day in a dry climate.
Layering is your friend. A light waterproof shell over a fleece is much better for the current "changeable" regime than one massive parka that makes you sweat the moment you step onto a crowded Central Line carriage.
Check the local Met Office updates every morning around 8:00 AM. That is when the most recent overnight data is processed and the short-term "nowcast" becomes much more reliable.
For now, keep the umbrella handy and start looking for your heavy scarf for next weekend. It’s going to be a long, grey crawl toward February.