Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings as a fresh spell of unsettled conditions affects large parts of the UK on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, bringing persistent rain and gusty winds to London while met office weather warnings snow remain in force further north. The WP Times reports that the contrasting conditions increase the risk of disruption across road, rail and ferry networks, with surface water flooding likely in the south and snow and ice creating hazardous travel conditions in parts of Scotland and higher ground in northern England.
What is the weather like in London today
In London, the day is dominated by rain and drizzle with limited breaks, keeping conditions damp and visibility poor at times. Current conditions show light rain around 5°C, with Tuesday expected to remain wet through much of the day. The high is around 7°C, with temperatures staying relatively steady rather than dropping sharply until later.
The practical impact for London is less about deep snow and more about how persistent rain interacts with saturated ground and busy commuter networks. Expect slower traffic during heavier bursts, spray on major routes, and localised pooling on poorly drained roads and underpasses.
What the Met Office warning means for London and the South
The Met Office warning for Tuesday focuses on the risk of flooding and disruption from further rainfall, particularly where ground is already waterlogged. The agency’s warning page states that additional rain during Tuesday may lead to flooding and disruption, and notes that warnings can change as conditions evolve. For Londoners, the key risks highlighted by this type of warning typically include:
- localised surface water flooding (rather than widespread river flooding)
- difficult driving conditions, especially during peak hours
- short-notice travel disruption if flooding affects key junctions, rail approaches or bus routes
Rainfall, wind and “real-world” travel impacts
While London’s forecast is primarily wet rather than wintry, wind matters because it worsens visibility, increases spray, and raises the odds of disruption on exposed routes. On a day like this, even moderate gusts can make bridges and open stretches of road feel more hazardous and can amplify delays when combined with standing water.
Rail disruption linked to flooding has already been a major issue in the South West, where National Rail has reported floodwater not receding on routes affecting services between Exeter St Davids and key branches, with limited replacement road transport. That wider disruption often feeds into knock-on effects for long-distance services and rolling stock positioning.
Where the “snow” part of the warnings is focused today
The “met office weather warnings snow” element is mainly about conditions away from London, with snow and ice expected in northern and eastern Scotland and higher ground. The Met Office accessible warning details describe rain increasingly turning to sleet and then snow, with accumulations building through Tuesday into Wednesday. It notes that above 200 metres, 10cm is expected with some places locally up to 20cm, and at lower levels precipitation may be a mix of rain, sleet and snow.
Scottish official traffic/warnings pages also confirm a yellow snow warning window running from 3 February into 4 February (valid from 12:00am on 3 February until 3:00pm on 4 February) for affected regions.
What to watch if you’re travelling from London today
Even if you are staying in London, travel plans can be affected by disruption elsewhere, particularly when rail routes are already strained by flooding. A sensible “UK commuter checklist” for Tuesday, 3 February 2026 looks like this:
- Check live updates before leaving, especially if you’re connecting to long-distance services.
- Build in extra time for road travel during late morning and early afternoon when rain intensity is often higher.
- If you’re driving, assume surface water on fast roads and reduced braking performance in traffic.
- If you’re heading north later today or tomorrow, be prepared for changing conditions where rain can turn to sleet and snow, especially at elevation.
London at-a-glance: 3 February 2026
| Item | London (Tuesday, 3 Feb 2026) | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Main theme | Wet, unsettled | Slower journeys, poor visibility |
| Current conditions | Light rain, about 5°C | Roads already damp, steady rainfall risk |
| Day range | High about 7°C | No sharp freeze in central areas |
| Primary hazards | Surface water, delays | Urban flooding hotspots, congestion |
| “Snow” risk | Low in central London | Any sleet risk is marginal and more likely on outer/northern edges |
| Wider UK risk | Snow/ice further north | Potential national travel disruption |
What happens next: milder air moves in after today’s disruption
According to Met Office, conditions are expected to become more settled after Tuesday as the current band of rain clears eastwards. For London and much of southern England, this marks a gradual transition away from persistent rainfall towards milder and drier weather.
From Wednesday onwards, temperatures are forecast to rise slightly, returning closer to seasonal norms. While nights will remain cool, daytime values are expected to feel noticeably less cold, reducing the risk of sleet and icy patches in urban areas. Any remaining showers should be lighter and more scattered, with brighter spells developing at times.
Forecasters caution, however, that ground conditions will remain sensitive after prolonged wet weather. Even as rainfall eases, rivers and drainage systems may take time to recover, meaning isolated flooding issues could persist in known hotspots. Overall, the trend points towards a gradual improvement rather than an abrupt change, with milder air reducing wintry risks in the south while more changeable conditions continue further north later in the week.
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