UK braced for 48 hours of sleet and 70mph gusts: will you warm up as 8–12C highs return by midweek?

Cold air lingers, yet a shift is brewing from the northwest. Showers fade for many, but rain edges in later, and hills could see a dusting. Winds ease by midweek as milder Atlantic air noses across the country.

What changes after the weekend

Arctic air drove the weekend chill. That pattern now loosens as a new frontal system slides southeast from the Atlantic. It drags cloud and patchy rain over Northern Ireland and Scotland first, then Wales and parts of England. Air over the Scottish mountains stays cold enough for a little snow. Elsewhere it stays wet rather than white.

After a wintry weekend, temperatures begin to recover from single figures, with highs drifting back towards the low teens by midweek.

Sunday and Monday bring a cross-country split. Central and eastern areas start bright and crisp. The northwest turns cloudy early with showers, then outbreaks of rain. The wet weather pushes southeast through the day and overnight.

Where the last wintry showers land

Snow risk sits over the higher Scottish peaks where colder air clings on. Lower levels see sleet at worst, and mainly rain. The north and west take the brunt of the showers. The southeast stays mostly cloudy with the odd light, patchy spell later.

Upland Scotland may catch a brief covering, but most towns and cities face rain rather than snow.

How cold will it feel and when it lifts

Daytime temperatures across the weekend hovered around 8–12C. The same range holds as rain arrives, with the breeze adding a chill. Monday morning starts in single digits widely. Pockets of frost fade quickly in the sun where skies stayed clear overnight.

As the week progresses, Atlantic air edges in. Winds keep a blustery feel early on, then ease. Temperatures climb a notch for most, moving closer to the seasonal average. The northwest stays unsettled. The southeast sees more dry intervals and brighter spells.

Expect a breezy start to the week, then a gentle warm-up—no heatwave, but a welcome step away from biting cold.

Numbers you need for Monday morning

• Morning temperatures: 3–6C for many, near 0C in rural dips, 7–8C by coasts.
• Daytime highs: around 8–12C, coolest north and west, mildest south.
• Wind: brisk westerlies, strongest in the northwest; easing midweek.
• Rain risk: highest across Northern Ireland, western Scotland, northwest England, Snowdonia, and the southwest.

Storm Benjamin’s legacy—and what it means now

Storm Benjamin tore through the UK in the days before the cold snap, with gusts topping 70mph in places and widespread downpours. The Met Office issued four yellow warnings during the peak. More than 40 flood alerts followed as rivers responded to heavy rain. The ground remains wet in many catchments, so even modest showers can cause tricky conditions on minor roads and low-lying fields.

70mph gusts, four yellow warnings, and 40-plus flood alerts have left saturated ground—watch for standing water where showers pass.

The shift to Atlantic weather brings showers rather than intense, prolonged downpours for most. That lowers the risk of fresh disruption, but surface water and local spray will persist when bands of rain move through.

Region-by-region snapshot

• Scotland: Cloud and rain sweeping southeast. Snow flurries over the Highlands. Breezy, feeling cold. A touch milder from midweek, but still changeable.
• Northern Ireland: Cloudy with showers merging into longer spells of rain. Blustery. Brighter gaps later in the week.
• North of England: Sunny breaks, then showers pushing inland from the Irish Sea. Cool start, near-average midweek. Hill fog at times.
• Wales: Early sunshine in the east, rain arriving across western hills. Windy over high ground. Drier interludes return midweek.
• Midlands and east: Crisp morning sunshine, cloud thickening later with a few light, patchy bursts. Milder from Wednesday.
• London and the southeast: Mostly dry, rather cloudy. The odd spot of light rain later. Brighter and a touch warmer by midweek.
• Southwest: Rain pushing in during the afternoon and evening. Breezy along coasts. Turning slightly milder from Tuesday.

Day-by-day outlook

Why conditions are flipping

The cold came on a northerly airflow, dragging Arctic air across the UK. As Atlantic systems return, winds back westerly and pull in milder air from the ocean. That raises temperatures a little, increases cloud amounts, and swaps snow risk on hills for rain at lower levels. The northwest sits closer to incoming fronts, so it stays wettest. The southeast lies in a rain shadow more often, so it turns drier and brighter between fronts.

Northerly to westerly is the key shift: less frost, more cloud, and a steady step towards average temperatures.

Travel, health and home: what to do now

• Commutes: Plan extra time where showers line up from the west. Watch for spray and brief, squally gusts near coasts.
• Health: Layers help in the breeze. Short bursts of sun can mislead; wind chill still bites on exposed routes.
• Home: Clear leaves from drains before the next band of rain. Wet ground plus showers often means pooling on drives.
• Walking and hills: Expect slippery paths after recent rain. Uplands in Scotland may turn wintry at times. Carry warm kit.

Key signals to watch

Two signals matter through midweek. First, how quickly the Atlantic flow strengthens. A stronger push lifts temperatures faster and trims frost risk. Second, the track of frontal waves through the northwest. A more southerly track would bring longer rain spells deeper into England and Wales. A more northerly track would favour drier breaks for most of England, especially the southeast.

Extra pointers for the days ahead

Fog risk looks limited where winds stay up, but brief early mist is possible in sheltered pockets after overnight clearance. Gardeners should still protect tender plants from chilly nights until the milder air beds in. Runners and cyclists can grab the brighter spells in the southeast on Tuesday and Wednesday, when showers thin and the breeze eases a touch.

For anyone chasing value on energy use, schedule high-demand appliances away from the evening peak on wet, windy days. Blustery conditions can increase wind generation and, in some regions, lower half-hourly prices. That approach works best with smart tariffs and timers, and it fits neatly with the showery, unsettled pattern expected in the northwest this week.