Met Office Forecast for South-West England

Headline: A very cold and frosty start to the new year.

Today: A rather cloudy day today with some patchy outbreaks of mainly light rain. Some sunnier spells will develop, especially during New Year's afternoon. Feeling cold in the strengthening breeze. Maximum Temperature 8C.

Tonight: Largely dry overnight with some clear spells, especially in the east, with just the odd shower in the west. Turning cold under the clear skies with a frost developing. Minimum Temperature -2C.

Friday: A bright start in the south, but a band of rain, sleet and some hill snow will sink southwards. Turning brighter from the north during the afternoon but remaining cold. Maximum Temperature 5C.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday: A cold weekend with plenty of sunshine by day and widespread frosts by night. Some wintry showers possible in the west, but dry for many. Remaining similar on Monday.

UK Outlook for Monday 5 Jan 2026 to Wednesday 14 Jan 2026: Cold northerly winds dominant across the UK in the first week of January bring wintry showers (often of snow) to many coastlines (and areas just inland of these) that are exposed to onshore winds. Into the new week more coherent bands of precipitation and thicker cloud will attempt to move in from the west, with a risk of further snow on the leading edge of these turning to rain. Confidence is low in the rate of this return to a more mild Atlantic flow, with a risk of further artic airflows following fronts to resume wintry showers, especially across northern areas of the UK. Temperatures recovering to just below average for most, though further north more likely to return cold at times.

UK Outlook for Thursday 15 Jan 2026 to Thursday 29 Jan 2026: Whilst confidence in details is low, by the start of this period the transition back to westerly winds bringing Atlantic weather systems into the UK is expected to be complete, with temperatures most likely recovering to around or just below average. There is perhaps a weak signal for slowly evolving weather patterns to be more favoured than normal, such patterns increase the chances of frost and fog above normal by night.