London weather is a joke. Honestly, if you live here, you know the drill. You check your phone, see a sun icon, and five minutes later you’re getting pelted by sideways sleet. Looking at a 14 day forecast london is basically like trying to predict the plot of a soap opera—it’s chaotic, occasionally dramatic, and subject to change at a moment's notice.
Right now, we are staring down the barrel of late January 2026. The atmosphere over the Atlantic is acting like a caffeinated toddler. If you've got plans to visit the South Bank or trek through Richmond Park over the next two weeks, you need more than just a vague idea of "rain or shine." You need the actual nuance that the little icons on your iPhone screen can’t communicate.
The 14 day forecast london: A tale of two halves
Basically, we’re looking at a split personality situation. The first week of this forecast is surprisingly... fine? Not "T-shirt in the park" fine, but "I can survive with just a light coat and a sense of hope" fine. We’re seeing highs hovering around 9°C to 10°C (about 48°F to 50°F) through the weekend of January 17th.
But don’t get too comfortable.
The Met Office and several independent meteorologists, like Jim Dale from British Weather Services, are currently eyeing a massive shift. There is a very real possibility of a "Beast from the East" style event brewing for the final week of January. While the first seven days are dominated by mild, damp Atlantic air, the second seven days are showing signs of a Siberian cold plunge.
What to expect this week (Jan 14 – Jan 20)
Expect grey. Lots of it.
- Wednesday & Thursday: Light rain is the name of the game. It’s that annoying, misty London drizzle that doesn’t feel like much but somehow soaks you to the bone in ten minutes. Temperatures are staying mild, around 9°C.
- The Weekend: Saturday, January 17th, looks like a tipping point. Some charts, specifically those from WXCharts, have been flashing "monster storm" warnings with a mix of heavy rain for the south and snow for the north. London will likely stay on the rainy side of this, but it’s going to be windy as hell.
- Monday & Tuesday: We start to see the mercury dip. The "mild" air gets pushed out by a stiffer breeze from the north-east.
Is the "Big Freeze" actually happening?
This is where the 14 day forecast london gets tricky. You've probably seen the tabloid headlines screaming about "10 inches of snow." Take those with a massive grain of salt. London is a heat island; the concrete and the millions of people keep the city a few degrees warmer than the surrounding countryside.
However, the BBC Weather team is now explicitly forecasting sleet showers for Monday, January 26th, and Tuesday, January 27th.
This isn't just a guess. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) models are showing a high-pressure block over Scandinavia. This is the classic setup for a cold snap. When that happens, the wind stops coming from the relatively warm ocean and starts coming from the frozen plains of Russia.
If this block holds, the end of your 14-day window will be significantly colder, with daytime highs struggling to get past 4°C and nights dropping well below freezing.
The Sleet Factor
Sleet is arguably worse than snow. It’s slushy, it’s slippery, and it makes the pavements around Oxford Circus a death trap. If the forecast for the 26th holds, expect transport delays. Southern Rail and the District Line don't exactly have a stellar track record when the tracks get icy.
Survival guide for the London elements
Look, you can't trust the apps 100%. They use "ensemble" forecasting, which basically averages out a bunch of different possibilities. That’s why you’ll see a 30% chance of rain every single day—it just means in 30% of the simulations, it rained.
Layering is your only god. You need a waterproof shell. Not a "water-resistant" fashion jacket—a proper waterproof. London wind turns umbrellas inside out in seconds, especially near the river. If you’re out and about, wear Merino wool or a decent synthetic base layer. It’s the only way to handle the jump from a freezing wind on the street to a sweltering, overcrowded Tube carriage.
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Also, keep an eye on the UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) alerts. They’ve already been issuing amber cold health alerts earlier this month. If the Siberian air mass actually arrives by the 24th or 25th, those alerts will be back.
What the "experts" aren't telling you
The big secret about the 14 day forecast london is the uncertainty of the "Atlantic vs. Continental" battle. We are currently sitting right on the boundary. If the Atlantic storms are stronger, we stay wet and mild. If the Continental high pressure wins, we get clear skies, bitter frost, and potentially the first proper snow of 2026.
Most apps will just show you a cloudy icon because it's the safest bet. But the nuanced truth is that we are in a high-volatility weather window.
Actionable steps for your next 14 days:
- Check the "Radar" not just the "Forecast": Use an app like Netweather or the Met Office's rainfall radar. It tells you where the rain is actually moving in real-time.
- Waterproof your shoes: Seriously. Wet feet in 4°C weather is a fast track to a miserable week.
- Plan for "Indoor Contingencies" for Jan 24-28: If the cold snap hits, that’s the time to visit the British Museum or the Tate Modern rather than walking the South Bank.
- Monitor the "Easterly Wind": If you see the wind direction on your app switch from "W" or "SW" to "E" or "NE," get your heaviest coat out. That’s the signal that the cold air has arrived.
The next two weeks in London aren't going to be a winter wonderland, and they aren't going to be a washout. They're going to be a messy, evolving mix of typical British dampness followed by a very sharp, very cold reality check. Pack accordingly.
Next Steps
To prepare for the expected dip in temperatures toward the end of the month, verify your home heating is balanced and check for any draft points around windows. If you are traveling into the city, download the TfL Go app to monitor real-time weather-related delays on the Overground and rail networks, which are most susceptible to the forecast sleet and ice.