Londoners are being warned to prepare for a particularly dreary and icy end to January, with a new forecast predicting four consecutive days of sleet for the capital.
A Prolonged Wet Spell Turns Icy
According to the latest BBC Weather forecast, the city is set for a significant shift from persistent rain to wintry precipitation. The sleet – a mix of rain and ice particles – is scheduled to hit from Sunday, January 25, and last through to Wednesday, January 28. This follows an exceptionally wet period where only a single day, Wednesday, January 21, is expected to be free from either rain or sleet between Thursday, January 15 and January 28.
The cause of this unpleasant change is a marked drop in temperature. From January 25 onwards, the mercury will dip, turning the ongoing drizzle into the more hazardous sleet. High temperatures during this four-day period are forecast to be a chilly 5°C, with lows hovering around 1-2°C.
Detailed Forecast and Long-Range Outlook
The daily BBC forecast for London until January 28 is as follows, with temperature highs and lows in brackets:
- Thursday, January 15 - Heavy rain and a moderate breeze (10, 4)
- Friday, January 16 - Light rain and a gentle breeze (10, 6)
- Saturday, January 17 - Light rain and light winds (10, 6)
- Sunday, January 18 - Light rain and light winds (9, 6)
- Monday, January 19 - Light rain and light winds (10, 5)
- Tuesday, January 20 - Drizzle and light winds (9, 4)
- Wednesday, January 21 - Sunny intervals and light winds (8, 3)
- Thursday, January 22 - Drizzle and light winds (7, 2)
- Friday, January 23 - Drizzle and light winds (7, 3)
- Saturday, January 24 - Drizzle and light winds (6, 1)
- Sunday, January 25 - Sleet and light winds (5, 2)
- Monday, January 26 - Sleet and light winds (5, 1)
- Tuesday, January 27 - Sleet and light winds (5, 2)
- Wednesday, January 28 - Sleet and a gentle breeze (5, 2)
Looking further ahead, the Met Office's long-range forecast suggests an increased chance of cold conditions affecting parts of the UK from late January into early February, bringing with it a risk of 'wintry hazards'. However, it remains difficult to predict with certainty whether these will directly impact London, whose weather patterns often differ from the rest of the country.
Capital's Unique Weather Microclimate
This localised effect was illustrated on the morning of Thursday, January 15, where a yellow weather warning for heavy rain was in place for areas virtually encircling London, but not necessarily covering the city centre itself. This serves as a reminder that while the broader national trend points to colder conditions, London's specific forecast can be subject to change.
Residents are advised to stay updated with the latest local forecasts and prepare for potentially slippery conditions on roads and pavements during the predicted sleet spell from January 25.
