Issued: 0900hrs Sunday 3rd January 2021
Duty forecaster: Claire Darbinyan

Wintry showers east; brighter, drier west

An easterly flow develops for many from Sunday with eastern and central areas likely to be hit by a mix of rain, sleet and snow showers. Drier towards the north and west. Frost and ice remain a daily risk for many. Some uncertainty in the forecast going forward from mid-week but temperatures look to be staying colder with further outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow for many.

For the weather for the next few days click here

Wednesday 06/01/21
Wednesday sees high pressure squeezed to the south as a front approaches from the northwest. Prior to this, it's a mostly dry and fine day for much of the UK and Ireland though isolated wintry showers affect eastern coasts of England, Ireland and Scotland as well as southern coastal regions of England. Cloud thickens over northwestern areas throughout the day and a band of rain, sleet and snow works its way inland over northwest Scotland later. Winds pick up here too. High temperatures of -1 to 4C for most.

Thursday 07/01/21
Low pressure moves to the east of the UK on Thursday drawing a chilly northerly air flow back across the British Isles. A front passes south over England and Wales bringing patchy outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow. Showers and good spells of sunshine follow from the north and west of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. These heaviest and most frequent over northern Scotland and along coasts exposed to the north wind. Highs of 0 to 3C across England, Wales and Scotland, 4 or 5C possible in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Friday 08/01/21
High pressure builds into the northwest on Friday as low pressure is squeezed to the south. Confidence in the detail is low but conditions tend to become drier and brighter over Scotland and Northern Ireland while much of England, Ireland and Wales hold on to a wintry mix of mostly patchy, light precipitation. Frequent showers affect eastern coasts of England. Highs range from just -1 to 4C.

Saturday 09/01/21
Again confidence is low in the detail, but Saturday sees the arrival of lower pressure from the northwest sending fronts across northern areas bringing strong winds and outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow here. Staying mostly dry but increasingly cloudy for England and Wales. The best of the sun to the south and southeast. Highs of 0 to 5C.

Sunday 10/01/21
Confidence is low in Sundays forecast. Low pressure moves back in across parts of the UK and Ireland but the exact position it takes is uncertain. A wintry mix of precipitation is likely and temperatures will stay cold, ranging from -2 to 4C.

Monday 11/01/21
Low pressure stays nearby on Monday but, again, confidence in this forecast remains low. Further outbreaks rain, sleet and snow are expected with strong winds for some. Temperatures may come slightly milder at 2 to 6C.