The UK is set to shiver its way into the New Year, with forecasters warning of a significant temperature drop and potential wintry hazards as 2026 begins. After a relatively mild post-Christmas weekend, a cold snap is poised to grip the nation.
A Chilling Start to the New Year
Following weekend temperatures that reached between 5C and 9C, the mercury is forecast to take a sharp dive as next week commences. The Met Office has indicated that temperatures will drop as low as freezing in many areas, with daytime lows of just 1C expected in cities like Glasgow.
The coldest conditions are predicted for the north, where night-time temperatures on Monday and Tuesday could fall to 0C or below across Northern England and Scotland. This plunge will bring a widespread risk of overnight frosts, particularly under clear skies where winds are light.
Settled But Cold Conditions Prevail
Despite the chill, high-pressure systems will dominate the weather pattern until the end of the year, bringing largely settled and dry conditions. However, this will be accompanied by predominantly cloudy skies for most, with only occasional brighter spells, mainly in the west.
The forecast for the immediate days is as follows. Today, early fog will clear to a sunny start for some, but cloud will thicken from the north and east, bringing light rain and drizzle to higher ground. Tonight remains cloudy with patchy drizzle and a chill, leading to patchy frost by dawn.
Sunday will be another settled day after a cold start, with cloudy skies and hill drizzle for many, though brighter in the west. The period from Monday to Wednesday will see high pressure maintain dry weather, but it will feel consistently chilly with further overnight frosts in places.
Wintry Hazards on the Horizon for 2026
As the calendar turns, the weather picture is expected to shift. The Met Office warns that wintry hazards may become possible in some regions as cold air moves closer to the UK. Weather patterns are predicted to evolve slowly, with high pressure lingering over the North Atlantic.
Meanwhile, low pressure in the east is forecast to move through the North Sea, introducing a spell of wet and windy weather, especially for northern parts of the country. Looking further ahead into January, conditions are expected to settle again, but with a trend towards colder and drier than average weather overall.
Temperatures for the first month of 2026 are predicted to fall below the seasonal average, interspersed with periods of rain, showers, and windy spells. The nation is advised to prepare for a frosty and potentially disruptive introduction to the new year.
