London's New Year's Day weather: A dry, sunny start before 8-day rain deluge

Londoners planning to start 2026 with a bracing outdoor stroll are in luck, as the capital is set for a dry and clear New Year's Day. However, the pleasant conditions will be short-lived, giving way to a significant period of wet weather.

A Brief Window of Winter Sun

The first day of the year, Thursday 1st January, offers a welcome respite for those hoping to walk off festive excess. The BBC forecast predicts temperatures around 7°C with dry skies and sunny intervals, accompanied by a gentle breeze. It presents an ideal opportunity for a wintery walk across the city's parks and along the Thames.

The Incoming Chill and Extended Rain

The agreeable weather will not last. A sharp change arrives on Friday 2nd January, bringing sleet showers and a dip in the mercury to 5°C. While London will see sun and clear skies from Saturday 3rd to Monday 5th January, a much more sustained period of poor weather is on the horizon.

From Tuesday 6th January right through to Tuesday 13th January, the capital faces a brutal eight-day stint of consistent rain and showers. Temperatures during this wet spell are expected to hover around the 9°C mark.

Met Office Warns of Widespread Winter Hazards

This pattern aligns with a broader UK-wide shift to colder conditions. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, Mark Sidaway, stated that the UK is in for a taste of winter as it welcomes the New Year.

"Arctic air and strong northerly winds will bring cold or very cold conditions to all parts of the UK," Sidaway explained. "Widespread and locally severe frosts are expected, along with the first snow of the winter for many."

A yellow warning for wind and snow has been issued for northern Scotland from New Year's Day. Sidaway added that these colder conditions and wintry hazards – including snow, ice, and strong winds – will develop more widely across the country and are likely to last through at least the first week of January.