A weather system, named Storm Pedro, is forecast to bring rain and snow to Britain today and tomorrow, though milder conditions are expected by the weekend. The storm is expected to have a greater impact on France, where it was named by Meteo France, the country’s national meteorological service.
Storm Pedro to Bring Rain and Snow to the UK
Despite the ongoing cold and wet weather, forecasters predict temperatures in the “low-to-mid teens” Celsius for the UK by the end of the week. Sky News meteorologist Dr. Chris England explained that the jet stream has recently been positioned south of the UK, allowing cold air from Scandinavia to move across Britain.
“But it will move north over the next few days, with a much milder Atlantic flow developing,” Dr. England said. “The rain and snow will mostly clear tomorrow, with milder air following. Expect more rain on Friday.”
The snow forecast for Wednesday and Thursday is expected to be largely confined to higher elevations. However, the Met Office has warned of a small chance of disruption caused by flooding, snow, and strong winds, potentially leading to cancellations of flights and train services and stranded vehicles.
Yellow warnings for rain are currently in place for southern England, with hill snow forecasts for Wales and the West Midlands. A yellow warning for heavy rain is in effect for an area stretching from Cornwall to Kent until 8 a.m. on Thursday, with 10-20mm of rain expected widely and up to 30mm near the south coast, and as much as 50mm on Dartmoor, Devon.
A separate yellow warning for snow in the West Midlands and Wales will run from 4 p.m. on Wednesday until 6 a.m. on Thursday. Northern Ireland is expected to experience outbreaks of rain, hill snow, and winds of up to 50-55mph, with a yellow warning in force until 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
Senior Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said, “By the time we get into the late part of the day on Thursday, by that stage, the winds should be clearing away. It’s all change after that, by the weekend it will be feeling much, much milder with temperatures reaching the low-to-mid teens, if we see some sunshine.”
A cold health alert was issued Tuesday for much of England, running until 6 p.m. on Friday and covering the South West, the Midlands, the North East, the North West, and Yorkshire and The Humber. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) stated the cold weather is likely to pose “a greater risk to life of vulnerable people” and increase demand for healthcare services.
A recent UKHSA report linked more than 2,500 deaths to cold weather last winter, with most occurring during a six-day cold snap in January 2025. Cold-associated deaths were reported in all regions except the North East.
Meanwhile, Spain and Portugal are also expected to be affected by Storm Pedro in the coming days. The Spanish weather agency, AEMET, is predicting snowstorms and winds of around 75mph in some areas.
Parts of Germany and western France are currently experiencing significant flooding due to ongoing rainfall, with some homes and villages flooded and transport networks disrupted.
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