Winter 2025/2026

[GloriaSmud]

We’re a few weeks from the start of meteorological winter on the 1st December but there are already some musings on websites about what the next season might bring….

So here are the thoughts of:

Netweather ~ (Vegemiteandhoneyontoast posted a link to this one on the Autumn thread).....
https://www.netweather.tv/weather-forecasts/news/13184-winter-202526-outlook-what-four-decades-of-weak-la-nina-winters-tell-us

Two from TheWeatherOutlook…..
https://www.theweatheroutlook.com/weather-news/7632/winter-2025-26-weather-outlook
https://www.theweatheroutlook.com/weather-news/7672/uk-snow-or-cold-snap-in-november---here-is-what-the-model-data-says

And SevereWeatherEurope (a new one that I haven’t come across before, has some well put-together explanations)….
https://www.severe-weather.eu/long-range-2/winter-2025-2026-outlook-colder-season-forecast-for-united-states-canada-europe-fa/

My thoughts (more gut feeling than anything and based on the weather we’ve been having recently!), is that we’re veering towards a fairly quiet but colder than average winter. I don’t think we’ll have many storms but there’ll be rain at times (which will go some way towards upping the reservoir levels.) I think there’ll be some cold snaps (maybe more at the start of winter), plenty of sunny days and nighttime frosts. Hopefully (for those that like it!), we’ll get some snow and the chances of that will increase if the quiet, settled weather stays and systems from the Atlantic try to move in. Any snow will probably last a day or two rather than the ‘so much snow that the country grinds to a halt,’ sort of thing.

So we’ll see if any of these predictions come true!......

It's been pouring with rain the last couple of hours but it's warmer.

What a gloomy first week
And we had snow in Essex -not forecast it was meant to be sunny, as soon as I saw the clouds I knew what was coming.

I saw the lady in the building opposite. Looks like she's got a new puppy. She took him out to look at the snow - he was wrapped in the blanket but I thought he looked unimpressed. She went back in very quickly!

@GloriaSmud any thoughts on the high pressure over Scandinavia? Is there a possibility of being plunged right back into cold early next week?

@RafaistheKingofClay ~ at the moment, the GFS is giving us weather from the west for next week. Sunday/into Monday looks like it might bring some snow as a front moves across the whole country, west to east but after that, temperatures look like being about average for most of England but still chilly for the north/Scotland. There might still be some snow about but only for northern/Scottish hills.

Sorry to butt in as a non weather person.

However I've just seen on the Windy app a forecast for Thursday saying 110mph+ gusts in the Western Channel 😮

Smart cat!
If I had to clean up cat poo I would rather it was in the bath than anywhere else

What is a non-weather person?!

Yeah, I've heard that we're going to have 50 miles an hour gusts around my way on Friday.

Me too. But it really annoys him. Whereas his dogs that puke 💩 and pee on the carpet, duvet and even my bloody feather and down pillow are forgiven 🤬

110mph is unlikely but there's a weather warning out for strong winds for Thursday, with gusts of 50-60mph, but could reach 70mph. So perhaps wise to take note of that one if you're in the SW.....

@GloriaSmud
What do you think the possibility is for it to be fine driving between Stockport and Sheffield on Friday?

The report from Brussels is that it was -2 on my balcony (not accounting for wind chill) 90 minutes ago - before it snowed again. It is still quite cloudy and it looks like it is still snowing across the far side of the city.

Sooooo icy this morning, light rain yesterday afternoon and produced a bit of a thaw. Hard freeze overnight. Not pretty out there. Luckily the main roads were pretty much clear yesterday.

@EducatingArti ~ that's kind of a difficult one. If you're going to be travelling through The Peak District, that's on the edge of the yellow warning issued by the metoffice and well known for its snow amounts. I think I'd either see what the metoffice are saying as we go through today and tomorrow (I don't think they're entirely sure themselves at the moment!) or leave it for another day - I wouldn't like to get half-way there and run into trouble!

I agree. Those roads can turn nasty quickly (If anyone knows of the road with the Cat and Fiddle on, you’ll know what I mean.) Snake’s Pass has a reputation for good reason.

Same here with rain overnight and then ice.

Thanks @GloriaSmud
I'd been thinking it is a watch and wait situation. If the yellow area is slightly to the south it could be ok, slightly further north, not so much!
I wouldn't be taking the A6 but would go slightly further north to the M67 and onwards.

We've got some Amber warnings now for wind and snow.
Tomorrow and Friday are looking a real mess...

Latest thoughts from the metoffice..

@GloriaSmud thank you

I wonder if it will get to Essex

I should be out on Friday night, I think I'd rather not take the risk. It's not important, it's whoever can make it to the pub, but most are a short walk away. I'll be trying to get a cab home and the route is uphill!

Thanks@GloriaSmud

@EmeraldRoulette ~ Essex looks like it'll be having a cold day of rain/sleet but after a day of all that, a cab would probably be a wise move if you're out Friday evening!

We last had heavy snow in November circa 2012/13 (guessing) I think in the London area, totally out of the blue! Then we had more heavy snow either in the December of that year of the January of the following year. I think that snow was less of a shock and more accurately forecast. My boss’s flights from a Turkey holiday were cancelled for a week due to Gatwick not being able to allow flights in or out. Boss was very pleased to get an extra week’s holiday, we had to deal with irate clients (he is a lawyer) as well as crawling to work in the snow and ice.

I recall walking home from a pub aged 17 or so with my brother with packed ice (on top of heavy snow). We lived in a part of London with very high hills (Crystal Palace) and often the councils would kindly not grit them, certainly not the side roads! Treacherous.

My Brussels balcony dropped from -2 to -7 by the time I left (late) for work this morning after snow pretty continuously fell for 2.5 hours. It has warmed up a little and no more snow fell since 11:30am, but the roads are slushy because they’ve been driven on rather than major meltage. Starting to get dark and it’s still cloudy, but he wind has decreased to a gentle breeze, from a stiff breeze this morning.

Amber warnings <gulp>
Think my trip over to Sheffield on Friday is looking less and less likely!

I think that reconsidering the journey would be a wise move EducatingArti!

Latest thoughts from Netweather...