UK weather today: rain everywhere, heaviest in Belfast and Glasgow

Rain is the story across the whole United Kingdom today, Monday 26 October. The heaviest falls are in Northern Ireland, western Scotland and the far south west, with Belfast expecting about 17.0 mm and Glasgow 12.0 mm. It is mild for late October, with highs of 14 to 16°C almost everywhere.

Today’s UK weather: where the rain is heaviest

The west takes the brunt. Belfast has heavy rain, Glasgow has heavy rain, and Plymouth also sees heavy rain with around 11.5 mm. Further east the rain is lighter, so places such as London, Norwich and Birmingham get a grey, damp day rather than a soaking one.

Weather by region

Scotland and Northern Ireland

Glasgow is the wettest Scottish city today, and showers are possible nearby with heavier bursts. Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness all have rain, but with smaller totals. Aberdeen is the breeziest of them with winds of 32 mph. Highs are 14°C across Scotland, while Belfast reaches 16°C.

Wales and the South West

Cardiff has about 9.8 mm and Aberystwyth about 8.4 mm, with winds of 35 mph on the Welsh coast at Aberystwyth. Plymouth has heavy rain and winds of 27 mph, while Bristol sees 4.7 mm. Temperatures are 15 to 16°C.

Northern and central England

Manchester is the wettest here with about 9.1 mm, and Newcastle gets 5.6 mm. Leeds and Birmingham have steady rain of about 4 mm, and the Midlands and Yorkshire both reach 15°C. Winds are moderate, between 17 and 21 mph.

Southern and eastern England

London has rain, with 1.5 mm, and Norwich has 3.1 mm, so these are the driest parts of the country today. Southampton is wetter, with 3.9 mm and winds of 22 mph. Showers are possible nearby on the south coast.

The next few days

Tuesday 27 October stays wet in the west and north. Bristol sees about 8.3 mm, Glasgow 7.8 mm and Inverness 8.5 mm. Aberdeen turns very windy at 42 mph, though it is mostly dry there. Newcastle brightens to cloud with no rain.

On Wednesday 28 October the south and east turn drier. London, Southampton and Norwich are mostly sunny, while Wales, Scotland and north west England still have rain, easing as the day goes on. By Thursday 29 October, winds drop to between 6 and 15 mph in most places and temperatures fall. London, Birmingham and Norwich reach only 11°C, with sunshine. Belfast is the exception, with rain again.

What it means for you

• Allow extra time for journeys today, especially in the west, where heavy rain can make roads slow and surface water likely.
• Take a waterproof; it is mild, so you will not need heavy layers.
• Winds are strongest on Welsh and Scottish coasts, so take care on exposed routes and near the sea.
• If you want to dry washing or work outdoors, Wednesday is the best bet in the south and east.

Today city by city

Forecast retrieved 26 October 2026, 06:31 UTC for 16 cities across United Kingdom, each checked with four points about 30 km around it. Days are local time. Live forecasts for any city: weatherforecast.site.