You've stepped out of the house in Cambridge thinking it's a clear day, only to be met by that signature, fine "mizzle" ten minutes later. It's classic. If you're looking for a weather forecast Cambridge UK right now, you’re probably seeing a lot of grey on your screen.
Honestly, the weather here is a bit of a trickster. It doesn’t follow the rules you’d expect from the rest of the East of England. While the region is technically the driest in the UK, Cambridge has this weird way of feeling damp even when it isn't actually raining.
Today, January 15, 2026, we’re looking at a pretty standard mid-winter setup. It’s cloudy. Temperatures are hovering around 8°C (46°F), though with the wind coming off the Fens, it feels more like 5°C. If you’re heading out toward Parker’s Piece or the Backs, you’ll definitely want that extra layer.
The Reality of the Cambridge Microclimate
Most people think Cambridge is just "London weather but a bit colder."
That’s not quite right.
Because Cambridge sits in a shallow bowl and is surrounded by the flat, exposed Fens, it creates its own little pocket of weirdness. The wind literally has nothing to stop it until it hits the city spires. This is why a 15 mph wind in Cambridge feels significantly more biting than a 15 mph wind in a more sheltered, hilly city.
Why the Forecasts Sometimes Fail
Ever noticed how the BBC or Met Office says it’s going to be a "dry day," but you still end up using your wipers? This is often due to the "Fen Effect." Cold air settles in the low-lying areas around the River Cam, trapping moisture and creating a persistent low-level mist or drizzle that radar often misses.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have actually been working on this. They recently developed a system called Aardvark Weather, an AI-driven model that processes data thousands of times faster than traditional supercomputers. It’s designed to catch these hyper-local shifts that bigger models might overlook.
What to Expect for the Next Few Days
If you're planning your weekend, don't put away the umbrella just yet.
- Friday, Jan 16: It’s looking mostly cloudy during the day, but there’s a heavy rain risk moving in by the evening. Highs of 9°C.
- Saturday, Jan 17: This is likely to be the wettest part of the week. There’s about a 75% chance of rain during the day, so maybe skip the punting for now.
- Sunday, Jan 18: Things start to settle, but it remains overcast with a few light showers.
Basically, it's a "big coat" kind of week.
The Heat Record Nobody Forgets
It’s hard to talk about the weather here without mentioning the extremes. We usually think of Cambridge as chilly and damp, but the city actually holds a pretty significant place in UK climate history.
Back in July 2019, the Cambridge University Botanic Garden recorded a staggering 38.7°C (101.7°F). At the time, it was the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK. While that record was broken during the 2022 heatwave, it proved that the city can turn into a literal furnace because of its inland, low-altitude position.
On the flip side, winters can get surprisingly sharp. While we rarely see deep snow these days, the "Beast from the East" style events tend to hit us hard because there are no hills to the east to break the Siberian air masses.
The Best Ways to Check the Weather
Don't just rely on the default app on your phone. If you want the real-deal, hyper-local data, go to the source.
The Cambridge Computer Laboratory runs a rooftop weather station that provides real-time data. It’s incredibly geeky and incredibly accurate. It’ll tell you the exact dew point and humidity levels on the roof of their building. If you see the humidity hitting 95% there, you can bet it’s going to feel "soupy" outside regardless of what the sunshine icon says.
Another solid option is the Met Office's "Cambridgeniab" station (located at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany). This station is situated slightly outside the city center, so it gives a better idea of the "true" temperature away from the urban heat island of the colleges and shops.
How to Dress for Cambridge Weather
This sounds basic, but there’s an art to it.
- The Shell Layer: Forget heavy wool coats if you’re walking a lot. A high-quality waterproof shell is better because the rain here is often wind-driven and "sideways."
- The Bike Factor: If you’re one of the thousands of cyclists, remember that the wind chill on Hills Road or Madingley Road is no joke. Gloves are mandatory from November through March.
- Footwear: The cobblestones in the city center get incredibly slippery when they’re damp (which is often). Wear something with grip.
Surprising Facts About Cambridge Rainfall
Here is something that usually shocks people: Cambridge is actually one of the driest cities in the UK.
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It gets roughly 550mm of rain a year. Compare that to over 1,000mm in parts of the North or West. The reason it feels "rainy" is the frequency, not the volume. We get a lot of days with a tiny bit of rain, rather than a few days with a lot of it.
This makes it great for gardeners in some ways, but it also means the local chalk aquifers—where we get our drinking water—are often under a lot of stress.
Actionable Tips for Navigating the Week
- Check the "Feels Like" Temp: In Cambridge, the raw temperature is a lie. If the wind is coming from the North or East, subtract 3 or 4 degrees from whatever your app says.
- Watch the River Levels: If we get a week of heavy rain, the Cam can rise quickly. Areas like Stourbridge Common often flood, making the riverside paths impassable for cyclists.
- Timing Your Walk: Most winter rain in East Anglia comes in "bands." If you look at a live rain radar (like Netweather or the Met Office app), you can usually find a 40-minute window to run your errands between the showers.
- Plan for the "Golden Hour": Even on cloudy days, Cambridge gets some spectacular light just before sunset (around 4:15 PM right now). If the clouds break, the limestone of the colleges looks incredible.
The weather forecast Cambridge UK might look a bit grey for the next few days, but that's just the rhythm of the Fens in January. Keep a waterproof layer handy, watch out for the wind chill, and maybe save the long walks for Thursday when we might actually see a glimpse of the sun.