If you’re staring at your weather app trying to figure out if you should pack that massive puffer jacket or just a sturdy umbrella for your trip to the Big Smoke, I feel your pain. London weather is notoriously moody, but the weather 10 days in London forecast for late January 2026 is looking particularly unpredictable. We’ve gone from a "baltic" start to the month—shoutout to that random -8°C dip at Heathrow earlier this month—to a weirdly mild middle, and now the models are fighting again.
Basically, if you’re planning your life around the next week and a half, you need to know that the "Arctic maritime air" is threatening a comeback.
What’s actually happening with the 10-day outlook?
Right now, as of January 18, we’re sitting in a bit of a transitional bubble. The Met Office is tracking a high-pressure system that’s hovering like an indecisive guest at a party. If it stays put, we get crisp, clear, but bone-chilling days. If it shifts even slightly to the west, we get dumped on by Atlantic moisture.
That means rain. Lots of it.
For the immediate window, expect daytime highs to hover around 7°C to 9°C, which sounds fine until you factor in the 85% humidity that makes the air feel like a wet, cold blanket. But here’s the kicker: the long-range charts for the final week of January (around the 27th to the 31st) are showing a 60% probability of sub-zero nights.
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Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick recently flagged that Arctic air masses are likely to re-establish themselves. We aren't just talking about a little frost on the windshield; we're talking about "wintry hazards" that could mess with the rail lines and flights at Gatwick.
The Snow Question: Will it actually happen?
Honestly, snow in London is usually a myth or a mess. Because of the "Urban Heat Island" effect, the city center (Zone 1) stays a couple of degrees warmer than the suburbs. While WXCharts and some of the more dramatic tabloids are pointing at purple blobs on the map for January 31, don't buy your sled just yet.
Historical data shows London only gets about two days of snow in January on average.
Most of the time, what people call "snow" in London is actually "sleet"—that depressing slush that melts the second it hits the pavement and turns the curbs into freezing puddles of doom. However, if that Scandinavian system currently brewing actually makes its way across the North Sea, we might see some genuine white stuff in the outer boroughs like Barnet or Bromley.
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Reliability: Can you trust a 10-day forecast?
Let’s be real for a second. A 10-day forecast is basically an educated guess.
According to research from the University of Reading, a 5-day forecast is about 90% accurate, but by the time you hit day 10, that accuracy drops to about 50%. It’s a coin flip.
The BBC Weather app tends to be a bit more "pessimistic" with rain percentages, while the Met Office is usually better for temperature accuracy. If you’re checking the weather 10 days in London, look for trends rather than specific numbers. If every day shows a "chance of rain," just assume you're going to get wet at some point.
Survival Guide: Packing for London’s Late-January Mood Swings
You’ve got to dress like an onion. Layers are the only way to survive the transition from a 2°C wind-whipped street corner to a 25°C "Sauna-style" Central Line tube carriage.
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- The Waterproof Shell: Don't just bring a wool coat. If it gets soaked, you'll be heavy and miserable all day. A stylish waterproof parka is the local uniform.
- Footwear: Leave the suede shoes at home. Seriously. Between the rain and the salt used to grit the pavements, they'll be ruined in 24 hours.
- The Umbrella Factor: Don't buy a cheap £5 umbrella from a tourist shop in Leicester Square. The wind tunnels between the skyscrapers in the City will snap it in three seconds. Invest in a wind-resistant one or just stick to a good hood.
Why the end of January feels different this year
2026 is seeing some weird atmospheric blocking. Usually, we get a "zonal flow" where weather just zips across the Atlantic. This year, things are getting stuck. This is why we might see five days of identical grey drizzle followed by a sudden, sharp "Beast from the East" style snap.
If you are traveling for business or catching a flight toward the end of the month, keep an eye on the "Yellow Warnings." The Met Office has already hinted that fog and freezing drizzle could stretch de-icing crews thin at hubs like Manchester and London Heathrow.
Quick Snapshot of Averages (Expect the Unexpected)
- Average High: 7°C (45°F)
- Average Low: 2°C (36°F)
- Daylight: Roughly 8.5 to 9 hours (Sunrise is late, around 7:50 AM)
- Rainy Days: 16 out of 31
Making the most of the gloom
If the forecast for your 10-day window looks like a charcoal drawing, don't worry. London is built for bad weather. The museums are free, the pubs have fires, and the "winter charm" is real.
Go to the British Museum or the V&A when it’s pouring. Or better yet, find a pub in Hampstead with a fireplace and wait for the sun—which, let’s be honest, will probably pop out for exactly eleven minutes before disappearing again.
Next Steps for Your Trip:
Check the "Rain Today" or "Hyperlocal" radar apps rather than just the daily icon. These give you a minute-by-minute breakdown of when the clouds will actually break, allowing you to time your walk from the Southbank to Covent Garden without getting drenched. Always have a "Plan B" indoor activity like the Churchill War Rooms or a West End matinee for those days when the Arctic air mass decides to stay for tea.