Look, if you’ve spent more than five minutes in the Big Smoke, you know the drill. You check the app, grab a light jacket, and within twenty minutes, you’re drenched and shivering while waiting for a delayed District Line train. But honestly, the london weather next week is shaping up to be a bit of a weird one, even by our standards. We aren't just looking at the usual drizzle.
There's a legit battle happening in the skies. On one side, we’ve got these pushy Atlantic systems trying to bring in milder, wet air. On the other, there's a stubborn high-pressure zone over to the northeast that’s basically a bouncer for the Arctic.
The Breakdown: Rain, Sleet, and the "Will It Snow?" Game
Right now, as of Friday, January 16, things are pretty damp. The current temperature is sitting at 48°F (about 9°C for those of us who think in Celsius), but with the humidity at 82% and a 7 mph wind coming from the south, it feels more like 45°F.
It’s cloudy. It’s grey. It’s London.
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But here is where it gets interesting. Friday night is bringing light rain with a 45% chance of precipitation. If you’re heading out to Soho or Shoreditch, take the big umbrella. Tomorrow, Saturday, January 17, is looking like a repeat performance with a high of 49°F and a low of 44°F.
Then we hit the "mostly cloudy" stretch.
From Sunday the 18th through Tuesday the 20th, temperatures are going to hover around 50°F or 51°F. It sounds mild, right? Well, sort of. But the humidity is going to be through the roof—reaching 91% on Sunday. That’s that "gets into your bones" kind of cold that no amount of Pret coffee can fix.
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Why the Forecast is Giving Everyone Whiplash
The experts at the Met Office and BBC Weather are currently keeping a very close eye on what they call "transitional" conditions. Basically, the milder air we’re seeing now is expected to lose the fight by the middle of next week.
- Wednesday, Jan 21: We might actually see the sun! It’s forecast to be "partly sunny" with a high of 48°F. But look at that overnight low: 36°F.
- Thursday, Jan 22: The daytime stays chilly at 44°F, and the chance of snow starts creeping in at 5% during the day.
- The Sleet Threat: By the following Monday, January 26, the BBC is flagging a real risk of sleet showers as thermometers hover near 2°C.
You’ve probably seen those "snow bomb" headlines. Honestly, don't cancel your plans just yet. While there's a lot of talk about an Arctic blast, London usually acts like a heat island. We’re more likely to get that slushy, grey mess that ruins your suede boots than a picturesque Winter Wonderland.
Practical Steps for Surviving the Week
Since the ground is already saturated from the storms earlier this month—remember that yellow warning on the 15th?—any new rain is going to cause puddles the size of small lakes.
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- Check the UV Index: It’s basically 0 or 1 all week. You don’t need sunscreen, but you definitely need Vitamin D.
- Layers are Everything: With highs of 51°F and lows of 36°F, a single heavy coat will leave you sweating on the Tube and freezing on the platform.
- Waterproof Everything: The chance of rain fluctuates between 10% and 75% over the next few days. Basically, assume it will rain at some point.
- Watch the East Wind: By mid-week, the wind direction shifts to the East. This is the "Beast from the East" direction, bringing much colder air from the continent.
Basically, the london weather next week is a story of two halves: a damp, mild start followed by a sharp, icy descent into the end of January. Keep an eye on the Tuesday night forecast—that’s when the shift really starts to bite.
Stick to waterproof footwear and keep your travel apps open. The combination of saturated ground and falling temperatures means the transport network will likely be as temperamental as the clouds.