And the first hint of snow is edging closer.
Britain faces another unsettled spell as the Met Office sets out a run of warnings from Tuesday, with several regions braced for persistent downpours and brisk winds. After the rain, colder air is poised to spill south from the North, dragging overnight temperatures lower and sharpening the feel of mid autumn.
The sequence matters for anyone on the move. Wet roads, gusty spells and the risk of local flooding could complicate commutes and school runs, before a brief window of brighter skies slips in and the mercury nudges closer to seasonal norms. The chill follows.
Where warnings bite first and the regions most at risk
Yellow alerts cover parts of south west Scotland, southern Wales, south west England and Northern Ireland, with the first bands of rain arriving through Tuesday morning. In south west Scotland, forecasters expect around 20 to 40 millimetres of rain, with winds strengthening along exposed coasts and gusts reaching near gale force. That warning runs from 10am on Tuesday until midnight.
Further south and west, a warning for Devon and Cornwall begins at midday on Tuesday and lasts until 6pm on Wednesday, bringing heavy rain and southerly winds with a 20 to 40 millimetre downpour widely. Across southern Wales, around 30 to 50 millimetres could fall quite broadly, with alerts in place on Tuesday from 7am to midnight, then again on Wednesday from 6am to midnight. Northern Ireland carries a separate warning from 6am to 9pm on Tuesday, where 20 to 30 millimetres of rain is expected.
- South west Scotland, warning from 10am Tuesday until midnight, 20 to 40 millimetres and coastal gusts near gale strength
- Southern Wales, warning 7am to midnight Tuesday, then 6am to midnight Wednesday, 30 to 50 millimetres widely
- Devon and Cornwall, warning from midday Tuesday until 6pm Wednesday, 20 to 40 millimetres with southerly winds
- Northern Ireland, warning 6am to 9pm Tuesday, 20 to 30 millimetres of rain
The Met Office cautions about slower journeys, spray on roads and the possibility of localised flooding where showers turn persistent. And yet, some places will still squeeze out drier interludes between the more stubborn bands.
Colder air slips south and where snow could show up
Once the rain clears northwards and eastwards, cooler air will begin to seep down from the North. That is when overnight values dip below freezing in parts of Scotland, most keenly over the Highlands and high routes. The chance of snow remains tied to higher ground rather than towns and cities, so think mountain tops rather than your garden.
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong set the tone, saying, « The UKis in for an unsettled week of weather, with frequent spells of heavy rain and at times strong, gusty winds. » He also said, « 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. »
For anyone planning a late evening drive over upland routes, that leap from wet to wintry is the detail that could change road conditions quite quickly. It wont last everywhere, but it will be sharp where it occurs.
Your UK forecast at a glance and what to plan for
Today sees rain spreading into the North and West, turning heavy at times, particularly in the West. The East stays largely dry although cloudy, with winds picking up through the morning while the air feels fairly mild. Tonight the outbreaks continue but ease in intensity, reaching eastern counties as the winds slacken and a chill develops in the North while the South stays milder.
Wednesday brings further rain across parts of England and Wales, and northern Scotland, while northern areas and later the South East draw some drier and brighter spells with a fresh breeze. From Thursday to Saturday, the pattern tilts colder in the North with overnight frosts returning, while heavy rain keeps pushing through southern and central areas on a strong easterly flow.
That blend means a split in the feel of the week. Northern areas trend crisper and more seasonal with clear, cold nights, while southern counties juggle pulses of rain with brief brighter windows. For many, the most useful tip is simple, keep the waterproofs handy and allow a touch more time for any trip through the warning zones.
Drivers and rail users should stay alert where water gathers quickly after downpours. Gardeners might want to protect late bedding plants from the colder nights creeping down later in the week, especially in northern districts. And if you live near higher routes in Scotland, a light dusting on the tops on Wednesday night would fit the pattern set out by the Met Office.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland keep most precipitation as rain through the period, so urban flood risks sit above any wintry hazard further south. The national forecast still offers the odd brighter break between systems, which will feel welcome after repeated soakings. Then the colder air takes the stage, and yes, that is the signal many have been waiting for.
