The Weather Outlook

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Quantum
21 January 2026 17:48:05
Brace yourself, I think ECM12Z is an upgrade,

AI version is an upgrade, so the proper one should be too right?


25/26 (850hpa temp) 11 days snow/sleet falling

18/11 (-4) 19/11 (-6) 20/11 (-6) 01/01 (-7) 04/01 (-10) 10/01 (-7) 11/01 (-3) 30/01 (-1) 13/02 (-6) 15/02 (-4) 18/02 (-6)

24/25 10d

18/11 (-6) 19/11 (-6) 23/11 (-2) 22/12 (-5) 04/01 (-5) 05/01 (0)14/02 (0) 15/02 (0)12/03 (-6) 13/03 (-6)

23/24 8d

29/11 (-6) 30/11 (-6) 02/12 (-5) 03/12 (-5) 04/12 (-3) 16/01 (-3) 18/01 (-8)08/02 (-5)

22/23 7d

18/12 (-1)06/03 (-6) 08/03 (-8) 09/03 (-6) 10/03 (-8) 11/03 (-5) 14/03 (-6)

21/22 12d

Quantum
21 January 2026 17:58:01
I think this is actually going to be an upgrade, ECM12Z is looking better so far.


25/26 (850hpa temp) 11 days snow/sleet falling

18/11 (-4) 19/11 (-6) 20/11 (-6) 01/01 (-7) 04/01 (-10) 10/01 (-7) 11/01 (-3) 30/01 (-1) 13/02 (-6) 15/02 (-4) 18/02 (-6)

24/25 10d

18/11 (-6) 19/11 (-6) 23/11 (-2) 22/12 (-5) 04/01 (-5) 05/01 (0)14/02 (0) 15/02 (0)12/03 (-6) 13/03 (-6)

23/24 8d

29/11 (-6) 30/11 (-6) 02/12 (-5) 03/12 (-5) 04/12 (-3) 16/01 (-3) 18/01 (-8)08/02 (-5)

22/23 7d

18/12 (-1)06/03 (-6) 08/03 (-8) 09/03 (-6) 10/03 (-8) 11/03 (-5) 14/03 (-6)

21/22 12d

Retron
21 January 2026 18:13:21

I think this is actually going to be an upgrade, ECM12Z is looking better so far.

Originally Posted by: Quantum 

Definitely an upgrade if you don't like cold weather. -1 in London at 850 at 108 compared with -7 at 114 on the 6z. Stonking!


Leysdown, north Kent
Quantum
21 January 2026 18:16:58

Definitely an upgrade if you don't like cold weather. -1 in London at 850 at 108 compared with -7 at 114 on the 6z. Stonking!

Originally Posted by: Retron 

Not quite the upgrade in terms of the pattern though, a little closer to the mush from the other models!


25/26 (850hpa temp) 11 days snow/sleet falling

18/11 (-4) 19/11 (-6) 20/11 (-6) 01/01 (-7) 04/01 (-10) 10/01 (-7) 11/01 (-3) 30/01 (-1) 13/02 (-6) 15/02 (-4) 18/02 (-6)

24/25 10d

18/11 (-6) 19/11 (-6) 23/11 (-2) 22/12 (-5) 04/01 (-5) 05/01 (0)14/02 (0) 15/02 (0)12/03 (-6) 13/03 (-6)

23/24 8d

29/11 (-6) 30/11 (-6) 02/12 (-5) 03/12 (-5) 04/12 (-3) 16/01 (-3) 18/01 (-8)08/02 (-5)

22/23 7d

18/12 (-1)06/03 (-6) 08/03 (-8) 09/03 (-6) 10/03 (-8) 11/03 (-5) 14/03 (-6)

21/22 12d

BJBlake
21 January 2026 18:50:30
I’m afraid this one has slipped away like sand in the hand - just a few days and runs ago we clutched at snow fests and prolonged cold -the magic 16 years from 2010, but in climate terms we are galloping ahead. It was always 50:50 but I can’t hide the disappointment I feel - even though much experience sadly has taught me to expect this to happen. It nearly made it to safe territory but then the mirage faded back to the reality of rainy old Blighty! Ah well - maybe we’ll get a February special like 1991 - just need that elusive SSW !!
Brecklands, South Norfolk 28m ASL
Quantum
21 January 2026 18:55:53
Hmm I wonder if the arctic high has anything to do with this. 1060hpa monster must have influence, yet we know the models are abysmal at stuff over the pole. FI for the north pole is 72h. 
25/26 (850hpa temp) 11 days snow/sleet falling

18/11 (-4) 19/11 (-6) 20/11 (-6) 01/01 (-7) 04/01 (-10) 10/01 (-7) 11/01 (-3) 30/01 (-1) 13/02 (-6) 15/02 (-4) 18/02 (-6)

24/25 10d

18/11 (-6) 19/11 (-6) 23/11 (-2) 22/12 (-5) 04/01 (-5) 05/01 (0)14/02 (0) 15/02 (0)12/03 (-6) 13/03 (-6)

23/24 8d

29/11 (-6) 30/11 (-6) 02/12 (-5) 03/12 (-5) 04/12 (-3) 16/01 (-3) 18/01 (-8)08/02 (-5)

22/23 7d

18/12 (-1)06/03 (-6) 08/03 (-8) 09/03 (-6) 10/03 (-8) 11/03 (-5) 14/03 (-6)

21/22 12d

Jiries
21 January 2026 18:59:50

I do wonder again ....

Is this because it is incredibly cold in the NE of USA/Canada?? Never a shortage of cold there.. 

Originally Posted by: tallyho_83 

Did you notice the behaviour of this set up over USA? It seem everytime we will get deep cold to come here out of sudden USA go to the freezer then fire up jet on purpose to keep us away with 3000 miles LP to keep UK out from the cold?  12z ensembles really boring and mostly less cold temperatures.

David M Porter
21 January 2026 19:11:51

I think this is actually going to be an upgrade, ECM12Z is looking better so far.

Originally Posted by: Quantum 

For me, it is a marginal improvement at T+240 than the 00Z run was at the same stage. Emphasis on 'marginal', though. 


Lenzie, Glasgow

"A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody." – Thomas Paine

llamedos
21 January 2026 19:34:41
A few posts are comments without any supporting links - please stay on topic
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Rob K
21 January 2026 19:35:20

Hmm I wonder if the arctic high has anything to do with this. 1060hpa monster must have influence, yet we know the models are abysmal at stuff over the pole. FI for the north pole is 72h. 

Originally Posted by: Quantum 

I pointed out a day or two ago that the models were showing a 1055 high centred over the North Pole which was causing all the easterlies. If that was a phantom then the whole spell was a phantom and sadly that seems to be the case. 

The high is still there on the GFS in the mid term but it is centred way over the other side of the pole over northern Siberia and too far away to do anything for us. 

iPhone app now up to double figures by day 10 and relentless rain. We’ve had close to an inch today and it’s not stopping. 


Yateley, NE Hampshire, 73m asl

"But who wants to be foretold the weather? It is bad enough when it comes, without our having the misery of knowing about it beforehand." — Jerome K. Jerome

Matty H
21 January 2026 19:36:38

Hmm I wonder if the arctic high has anything to do with this. 1060hpa monster must have influence, yet we know the models are abysmal at stuff over the pole. FI for the north pole is 72h. 

Originally Posted by: Quantum 

I’d suggest go and watch the MetO ten day trend and it’ll be clear what the issue is. It’s the cold air coming out of the northern US

Hopefully next time, more caution at difficult scenarios at such distance. 

I hate the cold as everyone knows, but I still find reading this thread interesting 


Yate, Nr Bristol

TBFTEIARBSC

Hippydave
21 January 2026 20:17:45

I’m afraid this one has slipped away like sand in the hand - just a few days and runs ago we clutched at snow fests and prolonged cold -the magic 16 years from 2010, but in climate terms we are galloping ahead. It was always 50:50 but I can’t hide the disappointment I feel - even though much experience sadly has taught me to expect this to happen. It nearly made it to safe territory but then the mirage faded back to the reality of rainy old Blighty! Ah well - maybe we’ll get a February special like 1991 - just need that elusive SSW !!

Originally Posted by: BJBlake 

Is it too early to say there's an interesting signal showing up in the ECM strat winds forecast 🤪

https://charts.ecmwf.int/products/extended-zonal-mean-zonal-wind?area=nh&base_time=202601200000

 GFS has various bouts of warming at 10hPa - may as well clutch the straws before they float off!

I think IMBY we're essentially 'there' now, sadly it's a brief chilly waft followed by a lot of cold rain as the most likely solution in the near to mid term. There continues to be a small chance of some wintriness at times depending on low track etc. and (GEFS) a few colder members deeper in FI to hint at possible interest if the jet relents (rather more on ECMs 0z set). It's frustrating because we were tantalisingly close to getting enough model agreement for confidence in the colder outcome but ultimately absent a sudden shift back that's largely vanished for my neck of the woods. 

Judging by the GEFS I'd say the chances of something more interesting increase as you head north and the sets for Scotland still look pretty chilly with correspondingly high snow rows. As touched on, ECM 0z set was of some more interest down here particularly longer term and had a similarly more rosy glow as you headed further north as the GEFS - will see if the 12z set continues with that idea. 

Given this change in balance between the blocking and the atlantic has been driven by another shot of deeply cold air flooding south over the states, I guess there may be some room for amendment on how far south that drives, where the coldest air is etc. that would tweak the positioning of the jet and maybe allow something of a reversion to a more blocked and generally cold outlook.*

In any case, I'll reset expectations back to usual winter baselines for now and any improvements that are modelled will be a pleasant surprise. 

Edit* Should say I mostly stole that from the 10 day trend although it makes sense - the models are only projecting the cold shot, so any tweaks to that modelling as it gets closer to occurring will feed in to the jet. 


Home: Tunbridge Wells

Work: Tonbridge

BJBlake
BJBlake
21 January 2026 20:27:27

Of the GFS 12z only 4 pert’s of 22 take the cold past T+120 hours, a massive downgrade from yesterday’s 10 pert’s. 

Originally Posted by: BJBlake 

Of the GFS 12z only 4 pert’s of 22 take the cold past T+120 hours, a massive downgrade from yesterday’s 10 pert’s.


Brecklands, South Norfolk 28m ASL
BJBlake
21 January 2026 20:37:27

Of the GFS 12z only 4 pert’s of 22 take the cold past T+120 hours, a massive downgrade from yesterday’s 10 pert’s.

Originally Posted by: BJBlake 

The BBC look east are forecasting max of 6 degrees on Monday - then back to 8. Not exactly the snow temperature and ice days on show a couple of days ago, and there’s sadly no where in my neck of the woods over 128m - and we’d need 250m for snow here!! Anyway - I had a good shot in the arm at Wengen 10 days ago!! 


Brecklands, South Norfolk 28m ASL
tallyho_83
21 January 2026 20:46:52

Did you notice the behaviour of this set up over USA? It seem everytime we will get deep cold to come here out of sudden USA go to the freezer then fire up jet on purpose to keep us away with 3000 miles LP to keep UK out from the cold?  12z ensembles really boring and mostly less cold temperatures.

Originally Posted by: Jiries 

Yes I did. But why though? Just coincidence as it is happening every single time now! I remember the failed easterly of february 2021 when everything was looking idea for the BFTE but guess what? USA from Texas to NYC go into the freezer and we end up milder!!


Home Location - Vixen Tor Close, Okehampton, Devon (221m ASL)

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Magical Moon

www.magical-moon.com

Brian Gaze
21 January 2026 20:57:39

I’d suggest go and watch the MetO ten day trend and it’ll be clear what the issue is. It’s the cold air coming out of the northern US

Originally Posted by: Matty H 

That's often bandied around as the reason and it may well be true. However, the obvious next questions are: a) what is the reason for that b) is it happening more frequently than a few decades ago.


Brian Gaze

Berkhamsted

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ballamar
21 January 2026 21:16:29

That's often bandied around as the reason and it may well be true. However, the obvious next questions are: a) what is the reason for that b) is it happening more frequently than a few decades ago.

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 

Many factors at play another key factor would be increased global temps and moisture content ! 

Think stable cold patterns will become more unlikely, not impossible. 

There could well be one this year in Feb but as we have seen the frequency will likely decrease.

BJBlake
21 January 2026 21:44:38

Many factors at play another key factor would be increased global temps and moisture content ! 

Think stable cold patterns will become more unlikely, not impossible. 

There could well be one this year in Feb but as we have seen the frequency will likely decrease.

Originally Posted by: ballamar 

That’s exactly what I believe is the case. More heat, more moisture, mire volatility and less time for cold air to settle, gather and spread and properly embed as it used to do - with many a snowy battle as it eroded! 


Brecklands, South Norfolk 28m ASL
Gandalf The White
21 January 2026 22:27:03

That's often bandied around as the reason and it may well be true. However, the obvious next questions are: a) what is the reason for that b) is it happening more frequently than a few decades ago.

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 

I’ve said before that the jet stream pattern is a crucial factor. The Arctic air coming off the Eastern Seaboard is always likely to be a catalyst for cyclogenesis but it’s where the resulting LPs are steered that’s important. There have been examples of deep LP moving north towards the Canadian Arctic and western Greenland, with the associated WAA building high pressure further east.


Location: South Cambridgeshire

130 metres ASL

52.0N 0.1E



David M Porter
21 January 2026 23:01:52
FWIW the GFS 18z op looks a little more promising in deep FI in that the atlantic appears to be calming down a bit and pressure seems to be trying to rise in the Greenland region and is attempting to ridge towards the UK. Way too far off to have any confidence it of course, but there have been some suggestions in a few GFS ops recently of the atlantic calming down and pressure trying to rise at northern latitudes a bit as we enter February. We shall see.


Lenzie, Glasgow

"A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody." – Thomas Paine

Matty H
21 January 2026 23:09:18

I’ve said before that the jet stream pattern is a crucial factor. The Arctic air coming off the Eastern Seaboard is always likely to be a catalyst for cyclogenesis but it’s where the resulting LPs are steered that’s important. There have been examples of deep LP moving north towards the Canadian Arctic and western Greenland, with the associated WAA building high pressure further east.

Originally Posted by: Gandalf The White 

I can’t answer Brian’s questions with any basis as I’m nowhere near clued up enough on this, but the above would summarise my basic understanding, as inaccurate as this may or may not be 


Yate, Nr Bristol

TBFTEIARBSC

Quantum
21 January 2026 23:09:24
ARPEGE and ICON, GEM, UKMO slight upgrades, GFS slight downgrade. ECM now rolling. What will it be?


25/26 (850hpa temp) 11 days snow/sleet falling

18/11 (-4) 19/11 (-6) 20/11 (-6) 01/01 (-7) 04/01 (-10) 10/01 (-7) 11/01 (-3) 30/01 (-1) 13/02 (-6) 15/02 (-4) 18/02 (-6)

24/25 10d

18/11 (-6) 19/11 (-6) 23/11 (-2) 22/12 (-5) 04/01 (-5) 05/01 (0)14/02 (0) 15/02 (0)12/03 (-6) 13/03 (-6)

23/24 8d

29/11 (-6) 30/11 (-6) 02/12 (-5) 03/12 (-5) 04/12 (-3) 16/01 (-3) 18/01 (-8)08/02 (-5)

22/23 7d

18/12 (-1)06/03 (-6) 08/03 (-8) 09/03 (-6) 10/03 (-8) 11/03 (-5) 14/03 (-6)

21/22 12d

BJBlake
21 January 2026 23:13:31
Looking at the ECM this evening - the cold air advection from the east gets cut off far more robustly by a southerly push over Ukraine,  and this pulse of warm air from the eastern med wasn’t there before, in the past days when we were seeing such a sustained cold flow from the east. Now this warm pulse seems Modelled  to ride roughshod,  right on and through the cold feed and mix in it and kill it off with ease.  With the attack from this direction and the empowered jet off the Atlantic, it looks like an Ipswich Town striker getting sandwiched between two massive defenders (which never happens of course)!!
Brecklands, South Norfolk 28m ASL

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