London is currently caught in a weird atmospheric tug-of-war. If you've looked out your window today, Thursday, January 15, you’ve probably seen the heavy rain and felt the 16 mph gusts currently rattling the windows of the capital. It's miserable. Honestly, "unsettled" is the word the Met Office loves to use, but most of us just call it soaking wet.
But here’s the thing. The two week London weather forecast isn't just about whether you need an umbrella tomorrow. It’s about a massive shift that meteorologists are tracking, which could turn the city from a soggy grey mess into a frozen Siberian landscape by the time we hit the end of January.
We are currently tracking a transition from mild, wet Atlantic weather to a potential "Beast from the East" scenario.
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The immediate mess: Rain, wind, and the Yellow Warning
Right now, London is dealing with a deepening area of low pressure. Dan Holley over at the Met Office has been keeping a close eye on this. He’s noted that while the track of these systems is notoriously finicky, the impact is real. We’re looking at rain totals in the south hitting 20mm to 40mm, with localized spots potentially seeing much more.
For the next few days, you're looking at:
- Thursday, Jan 15: Heavy rain throughout the day. Highs of 9°C (49°F), but it feels significantly rawer because of the 91% humidity and wind.
- Friday, Jan 16: A bit of a "messy mix." You might see some sun in the morning, but don't get your hopes up. Light rain is expected to return by the evening.
- The Weekend (Jan 17-18): Temperatures stay around 9°C or 10°C. It’s typical London winter—grey, damp, and perfectly suited for staying inside a pub.
Why the two week London weather forecast gets scary
The real story starts developing around January 21. Jim Dale from British Weather Services has recently flagged a huge plume of freezing air sitting over Siberia. This isn't just a cold breeze. It’s a literal "weather bomb" of arctic air that is currently eyeing the British Isles.
When this Siberian air collides with the wet Atlantic fronts we’ve been having, things get weird. Instead of the drizzle we’re used to, we get sleet and snow.
According to the latest BBC Weather models, the "warm" spell of 9°C is going to fall off a cliff. By Monday, January 26, and Tuesday, January 27, we are looking at sleet showers hitting the capital. Thermometers are expected to hover around 2°C (35°F) during these sleet periods. That’s a massive drop from the double-digit "highs" we've seen earlier in the month.
The two scenarios for late January
Meteorologists are currently debating two very different paths for the city.
- The Proper Beast: If the high pressure to the north-east stays strong, it pushes that easterly flow right into London. This would mean a week or more of sub-zero temperatures and actual, sticking snow.
- The Damp Squib: If the Atlantic systems manage to "knock on the door" hard enough, they might push back. This would result in a milder, albeit still very rainy, regime.
Confidence is currently low because the jet stream is acting like a caffeinated toddler. However, the trend is leaning towards "colder."
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What most people get wrong about London snow
Everyone remembers the 2018 Beast from the East. It shut down the city. People think London doesn't get "real" snow because of the urban heat island effect, and usually, they're right. The concrete and millions of people keep the city a few degrees warmer than the countryside.
But sleet is actually worse.
Sleet in London means a slushy, icy nightmare on the Tube and the buses. The current two week London weather forecast shows a high probability of sleet on Jan 26 starting around 10:00 AM. If that hits during the morning commute, the city grinds to a halt.
Survival tips for the upcoming freeze
If you’re planning to be in the city over the next fortnight, you need to pivot your strategy.
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First, ignore the "high" temperatures on your phone. If it says 5°C but the wind is coming from the East, it's going to feel like -2°C. Wind chill is the real killer in January.
Second, watch the Met Office Yellow Warnings. They aren't just for show. A yellow warning for rain today often leads to a yellow warning for ice tomorrow once the temperature drops.
Finally, check your home. If you're living in one of London's many drafty Victorian conversions, now is the time to check the pipes. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has already issued cold health alerts this month. They specifically mention checking on vulnerable neighbors because these sudden shifts from 9°C to 1°C are hard on the heart and lungs.
Practical next steps
- Monitor the Jan 21 pivot: This is the date forecasters are highlighting for the arrival of the Siberian air.
- Waterproof everything: The rain isn't going anywhere for the first week, so make sure your footwear can handle deep puddles.
- Layering is key: You’ll be sweating on the Central Line and freezing on the platform. Use wool layers rather than one big heavy coat.
- Check travel apps daily: Sleet and snow will cause immediate delays on the Thameslink and Overground lines.
The "January thaw" is officially over. We are moving into the "active" phase of the winter, and by the end of this month, London might look more like a scene from a Dickens novel than the rainy metropolis we see today.