Look, if you’re planning a trip to Auld Reekie, you’ve probably already heard the horror stories. Horizontal rain. Wind that steals your soul. A sky so grey it looks like a wet wool blanket. Honestly, Edinburgh in January gets a bad rap, but most people are checking the wrong forecasts and packing for the wrong city.
The reality of the edinburgh weather 14 day outlook right now is actually a bit of a mixed bag, and not nearly as "Arctic" as the tabloids might want you to think.
Right now, we are sitting at a chilly 35°F. It’s cloudy, kinda damp, and there’s a 10% chance of snow today, January 16. But don't go out buying a sled just yet. Edinburgh’s relationship with snow is basically a long-running joke. It teases you with a few flakes, then turns into slushy mush within twenty minutes because the ground is just a bit too warm or the sea air blows it away.
Why the edinburgh weather 14 day forecast is basically a suggestion
Predicting Scottish weather for two weeks is like trying to guess which way a cat will jump. You can’t really do it with 100% certainty.
The Met Office—which is basically the gold standard for UK data—will tell you that anything past five days is a "trend" rather than a promise. But looking at the current data for the next fortnight, we can see some very specific patterns.
Tomorrow, Saturday, January 17, we’re looking at a high of 41°F and a low of 35°F. It’s going to be light rain. That's the classic Edinburgh winter: not freezing, just wet enough to make you regret your choice of footwear if you're wearing canvas sneakers on the Royal Mile.
The Breakdown: What the next two weeks actually look like
If you're here for the next 14 days, here is the vibe you should prepare for:
- The Chilly Start (Jan 16 - Jan 18): Expect highs around 38°F to 39°F. It’s going to be mostly cloudy with some light snow chances today and tomorrow, but Sunday looks like it’ll settle into a standard grey "overcast" day.
- The "Dreich" Phase (Jan 19 - Jan 21): This is when it gets wet. Monday through Wednesday brings light rain and drizzle. Temperatures actually climb a bit, hitting 44°F by Tuesday. It’s "warmer" but feels colder because the humidity is sitting at a whopping 94%.
- The Brief Sunlight (Jan 22): Mark your calendars. Thursday, Jan 22, is showing as sunny with a high of 43°F. In Edinburgh, one hour of bright sunshine is considered a legal holiday.
- The Late-Month Chill (Jan 23 - Jan 26): We head back into "rain and snow" territory. Friday the 23rd has a 20% to 35% chance of snow. Winds are also picking up here, hitting 15-16 mph from the southeast. That wind-chill factor is no joke.
Forget the umbrella, get a hood
Seriously. If you take one piece of advice from this, let it be this: leave the umbrella at home.
Edinburgh is built on a series of hills and wind tunnels. The moment you step onto North Bridge with a brolly, the wind will turn it inside out. It's a rite of passage for tourists, but it's a waste of money. Most locals just wear a decent waterproof jacket with a solid hood.
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The wind speed on January 25 is forecast to be around 16 mph. That might not sound like a hurricane, but when it’s 40°F and damp, that breeze feels like a slap in the face.
The daylight struggle
The thing nobody talks about is how short the days are.
Right now, the sun is setting around 4:11 PM. By the end of this 14-day window, we gain about 20 minutes of light, but you’re still basically living in darkness by tea time. This is why the pubs are so cozy—everyone is hiding from the dark.
If you’re planning to climb Arthur’s Seat, you basically have to do it between 9 AM and 3 PM to be safe. Any later and you're navigating slippery gorse in the pitch black. And believe me, those cobblestones in the Old Town? They turn into ice skates the second the temperature hits 31°F, which is exactly what’s happening tonight.
Is it actually going to snow?
The edinburgh weather 14 day data shows "snow showers" or "rain and snow" appearing on several days, specifically Jan 23, 25, and 26.
But "snow" in Edinburgh usually means "it might look pretty for a second on the Pentlands." In the city center, it usually turns into a cold drizzle before it even hits the ground. The humidity is consistently high (around 74% to 92%), which means the air is heavy and damp. It's a "penetrating" cold. It gets into your bones.
What you should actually do
Don't let the forecast scare you off. Edinburgh is arguably more beautiful when it's moody and misty. The Gothic architecture of the Scott Monument looks way better against a grey sky than a blue one anyway.
Just be smart about it.
Pack layers. A thermal base layer is your best friend. You’ll be freezing outside, then you’ll walk into a cafe that has the heating cranked to 80 degrees, and you’ll need to shed those layers fast.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Footwear: Wear waterproof boots with actual grip. Cobblestones + frost = a trip to the A&E.
- Timing: Plan your outdoor photos for that "sunny" window on Thursday, Jan 22.
- Wind Check: If the wind is coming from the East or Southeast (as it is for most of next week), avoid the coast at Leith or Portobello unless you want to be sandblasted.
- App Choice: Use the Met Office or Yr.no for the most accurate local models. Avoid generic world weather apps that don't account for the city's micro-climates.
The weather is going to be what it's going to be. Just grab a dram of whisky, put your hood up, and lean into the madness.