Cooler air then dives south, and that could change everything.
After a spell of relentless Atlantic rain, the Met Office has issued fresh yellow weather warnings for parts of south-west Scotland, southern Wales, south-west England and Northern Ireland. The alerts coincide with waves of heavy rain pushing into the North and West through Tuesday, followed by a sharper, colder flow moving down from the Arctic later in the week.
Forecasters say the switch to cooler air will return below-freezing nights to Scotland, raising the risk of early-season snow over higher ground while the rest of the UK stays wet and windy. Disruption to travel is possible in several regions as rain bands stall, pulse, then fade. The midweek picture keeps people guessing.
Met Office yellow alerts mapped and where snow could strike next
Warnings kicked in from Tuesday morning across four regions, with further alerts for Wales and the south-west of England flagged for Wednesday as fresh bands of rain arrive. Cooler air follows from the north, and that is where the wintry interest lies. Forecasters expect overnight temperatures to dip below freezing in parts of Scotland, with a chance of snow on mountains on Wednesday night.
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said in a statement « The UKis in for an unsettled week of weather, with frequent spells of heavy rain and at times strong, gusty winds. » He added « There will be spells of drier and brighter weather at times, and temperatures will begin to fall closer to average for the time of year from the north. We will see a return of below freezing temperatures in Scotland overnight, with even the chance of some snow over mountains on Wednesday night. »
- Yellow warnings remain in place in Wales and south-west England on Wednesday.
For most of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, any wintry risk stays locked in the Scottish Highlands, with precipitation falling as rain. Et pourtant, the mood of the weather turns more seasonal as that cooler air digs in.
How much rain to expect and what this means for travel
South-west Scotland faces 20 to 40 mm of rain between 10am Tuesday and midnight, with winds strengthening along exposed coasts and gusts up to gale force possible. The Met Office cautions that surface water on roads may build quickly under the heaviest bursts, raising the risk of delays and some localised flooding.
In Devon and Cornwall, the warning runs from midday Tuesday until 6pm Wednesday, with a widespread 20 to 40 mm downpour as southerly winds drive rain onshore. Across southern Wales, 30 to 50 mm could fall quite widely during two windows, from 7am to midnight on Tuesday, then again from 6am to midnight on Wednesday. Northern Ireland also sits under a yellow warning from 6am to 9pm Tuesday, where 20 to 30 mm is expected.
The agency highlights the potential for slower journeys, spray and standing water on major routes, and minor flooding of prone spots near rivers and low-lying roads. Coastal stretches, where winds freshen, may see trickier driving conditions at times. Plan extra time and check updates before you set off, especially if your route crosses a warning area.
The UK forecast through midweek and a colder turn by the weekend
Through Tuesday, rain keeps spreading into the North and West and turns heavy in western hills. The East stays mostly dry but rather cloudy. It becomes windy through the morning and remains fairly mild, even as the first push of cooler air begins to edge south later on.
Tonight, outbreaks of rain linger but gradually lose intensity. The rain also pushes into eastern counties. Winds ease for many. It turns chilly in the North while the South stays on the mild side, with cloud and patchy drizzle clinging on by dawn in places.
Wednesday brings further rain for parts of England and Wales, and also northern Scotland. There are drier and brighter intervals across some northern areas and later in the South East, where breaks in the cloud will feel welcome. It stays breezy, and on Scottish mountains the late-day chill could tip showers wintry.
From Thursday to Saturday, the north turns colder with overnight frosts returning. Heavy rain keeps coming for southern and central areas as the pattern remains mobile. Strong easterly winds develop, feeding in raw air to the north while the south stays wetter, which can feel colder still. Temperatures are set to dip for many, then recover abit where sunshine appears between showers.
All told, this is a classic November mix for the UK with sharp contrasts across short distances. Most will see rain at times, a few will see hill snow in the far north, and everyone gets a taste of autumn chill. The key is timing and track, so stay tuned to updates if you live near a warning boundary.
