Ever looked at your phone, saw a 0% chance of rain, and then got absolutely soaked walking down Broad Street? Honestly, we've all been there. Reading has this weird habit of defying the standard apps, mostly because the town sits right where the Kennet and Thames decide to have a meeting. It’s a literal geographic bowl that traps moisture and keeps local meteorologists at the University of Reading very, very busy.
If you're trying to figure out the weather forecast reading berkshire residents actually trust, you have to look past the little yellow sun icons.
Today, Friday, January 16, 2026, is a perfect example of "Reading being Reading." While the morning started with a bit of sun, we’re currently sitting at 42°F with a humidity level of 94%. That is thick air. You can practically feel the dampness in your bones. The wind is a gentle 6 mph coming from the south, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's a "nice" day. It feels more like 39°F, and the sky is a classic Berkshire grey.
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The Secret Science of the Whiteknights Observatory
Most people don't realize that Reading is actually a global powerhouse for weather science. The University of Reading’s Department of Meteorology is basically the Harvard of clouds. They’ve been recording data at the Whiteknights campus since 1901. Think about that. Over a century of daily notes on every single raindrop and gust of wind.
When you see a forecast for Reading, it’s often influenced by the massive amount of research coming out of this specific site. They don't just look at the sky; they measure earth temperatures at 30 cm and 120 cm deep. They even have a "grass minimum temperature" sensor which explains why your car windshield is frozen even when the official air temp is 36°F.
The record for the coldest day in Reading history? A bone-chilling -14.5°C back in 1982. On the flip side, we hit a record high of 37.6°C in July 2022. Reading is a town of extremes hidden inside a jacket of "mostly cloudy."
What to Expect This Week: Rain, Rain, and Maybe a Flurry?
If you’re planning your weekend, keep the umbrella by the front door. Friday's high is hitting 48°F, but we’re looking at light rain through the evening. It’s that annoying, misty kind of rain that ruins your hair but doesn't feel "heavy" enough to justify a full raincoat.
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Here is the quick breakdown of the next few days:
- Saturday: Constant clouds, high of 48°F. A 35% chance of rain during the day, dropping to 10% at night.
- Sunday: Light rain returns. It’ll be a bit cooler with a high of 46°F and high humidity (94%).
- The Big Shift: By Monday and Tuesday, the highs stay around 49°F, but the wind starts picking up from the southeast.
Basically, the next four days are a "rinse and repeat" cycle of light showers and heavy cloud cover. But keep an eye on next Saturday, January 24. The models are hinting at a mix of rain and snow as the temperature starts to dip toward 43°F with 36°F lows.
Reading the "Probability of Precipitation" Correctly
This is what most people get wrong. When you see a "35% chance of rain" for Reading today, it doesn't mean it will rain for 35% of the day. And it doesn't mean 35% of Berkshire will get wet. It actually means there is a 35% chance that at least 0.01 inches of rain will fall at the specific forecast point (usually the airport or the university station).
In a valley town like ours, that 35% usually translates to "it’s going to be damp." Because the town is low-lying, we get a lot of "hill fog" and trapped moisture that the big national models sometimes miss.
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Actionable Tips for Berkshire Commuters
Stop relying on the generic weather app that came with your phone. They use global models that don't understand the micro-climate of the Thames Valley.
- Check the "Feels Like" Temp: In Reading, the humidity is almost always high (averaging 80-90% in winter). A 45°F day feels significantly colder here than it would in a drier climate because the dampness pulls heat away from your body faster.
- Watch the Wind Direction: If the wind is coming from the East or Southeast this week (which it is), expect that stubborn "grey blanket" of clouds to stick around.
- The 0900 Rule: Most professional data from the Reading Observatory is taken at 0900 UTC. If you want the most accurate local update, check for new data releases around 10:00 AM daily.
The current forecast shows we are entering a stretch of "light rain" and "mostly cloudy" conditions through the 20th of January. If you're hoping for clear blue skies, you'll likely have to wait until next Thursday, the 22nd, which currently promises a rare bit of actual sunshine with a high of 46°F. Until then, keep your waterproofs handy and maybe stick to the indoor shops at The Oracle.