Rain and strong winds are set to disrupt travel and outdoor plans across several of the United Kingdom’s major destinations this week, with forecasters warning of difficult conditions on road, rail, sea and in the air.

A succession of active weather systems is expected to sweep in from the Atlantic through Friday 23 January, bringing gales for parts of Wales and southwest England and prolonged, heavy rainfall particularly across the Scottish Highlands and key tourism regions in central and eastern Scotland.

More News

Yellow Warnings in Force as Unsettled Week Begins

The Met Office has two UK-wide yellow weather warnings in place that cover much of the working week, signalling a heightened risk of disruption for residents and visitors. On Tuesday 20 January a yellow warning for wind extends across South West England and Wales, affecting coastal counties such as Cornwall, Devon and Pembrokeshire as well as inland areas popular with walkers and domestic tourists. Forecasters say southeasterly winds will strengthen through the morning, with gusts widely reaching 45 to 50 miles per hour, particularly over high ground and exposed routes.

From Wednesday 21 January through to Friday 23 January, attention shifts north as a separate yellow warning for rain covers a broad swathe of Scotland. The alert includes parts of the Highlands, Grampian, Central, Tayside and Fife, bringing some of the UK’s most scenic and heavily visited winter landscapes into the zone of concern. Persistent heavy downpours are expected over hills and upland areas, where totals could climb to between 80 and 120 millimetres, raising a risk of surface and river flooding and difficult conditions on mountain roads.

While yellow warnings are the lowest tier in the Met Office’s colour-coded system, they still indicate that the weather could pose risks to safety and infrastructure. Travellers are being urged to plan ahead, allow extra time and stay alert to rapidly changing local conditions, especially where strong winds coincide with high tides or where hillsides are already saturated from recent snowmelt and rain.

Impact on London, Manchester and Other Urban Hubs

For the UK’s biggest cities, the threat this week is less about extreme conditions and more about cumulative disruption. London and the southeast can expect a spell of mostly cloudy, damp weather, with light to moderate rain at times and temperatures hovering around 9 to 10 degrees Celsius by day. Forecasts indicate a run of grey, occasionally wet days from Tuesday to Friday, with a higher chance of showery rain midweek that could slow road traffic and cause minor issues for commuters.

In Manchester and the wider north-west of England, the picture is somewhat wetter, with forecasters predicting “cloudy with a couple of showers” on several consecutive days. Temperatures are expected to stay in the single digits, and a succession of showers could lead to standing water on key motorway routes and around the airport. Although the main Met Office warnings this week focus further south and north, Manchester’s position on the western flank of the Pennines means it will be exposed to frontal systems as they move inland from the Irish Sea.

Tourism operators in both cities expect some knock-on effects. Open-top sightseeing buses, outdoor walking tours and river cruises on the Thames and Irwell may see reduced demand or, in the case of stronger gusts, temporary cancellations. However, most urban attractions, including museums, galleries and theatres, are likely to remain largely unaffected and may even benefit from visitors moving plans indoors in response to the dreary outlook.

Scottish Highlands and Cities Brace for Soaking

The most severe weather through the middle and latter part of the week is expected across Scotland, where the rain warning from Wednesday lunchtime until Friday noon encompasses some of the country’s principal visitor regions. The warning area stretches from the Highlands and islands through parts of Grampian to Central, Tayside and Fife, taking in routes often used by visitors travelling between Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee and Inverness.

Forecasters warn that rainfall totals could be especially high on windward slopes and upland catchments, with 30 to 60 millimetres widely and up to 120 millimetres possible over the wettest hills. On already saturated ground, that volume of water could quickly translate into swollen rivers, fast-flowing burns and patches of deep standing water. Local authorities are on alert for potential issues on trunk roads, including the A82 along Loch Lomond and through Glencoe, the A9 spine route between the central belt and the Highlands, and coastal links in the northeast.

The warning also flags a “small chance” of homes and businesses being flooded and notes that where flooding does occur, communities may encounter power cuts, loss of mobile signal and disruption to key services. Visitors heading for winter breaks in Highland lodges, ski areas or coastal retreats are being encouraged to check ahead with accommodation providers, particularly in areas that have recently experienced snow and subsequent thaw, which can further destabilise riverbanks and slopes.

South West England and Wales: Windy with Coastal Hazards

While Scotland deals with persistent rain later in the week, the initial focus on Tuesday 20 January falls on South West England and Wales, where strong winds may cause the most immediate travel disruption. The yellow wind warning highlights a risk to road, rail, air and ferry services, with journeys likely to take longer and some high-sided vehicles facing challenging conditions on exposed bridges and moorland stretches. Popular visitor routes such as the A30 and A38 in Devon and Cornwall, and coastal roads in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, are expected to be particularly prone to gusty crosswinds and spray.

The Met Office guidance notes that coastal communities and sea fronts could be affected by large waves and overtopping, especially where strong onshore winds align with high tides. This could necessitate temporary closures of promenade sections, harbour areas and cliff-top paths, with local councils ready to deploy barriers and warning signs if conditions deteriorate. For visitors planning bracing walks along the South West Coast Path or the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, officials recommend checking locally for path closures and considering lower, more sheltered alternatives.

Airports in the region, including Exeter and Cardiff, may see delays to take-offs and landings during the windiest periods, and ferry links to the Isles of Scilly and between Welsh ports and Ireland may be subject to short-notice changes. Airlines and ferry operators are advising passengers to monitor service updates closely and to allow extra time for check-in and security, especially where crosswinds could force temporary suspensions or diversions.

Travel Disruption: Roads, Railways and Flights at Risk

Beyond the regional variations, the unsettled pattern through Friday presents a familiar set of challenges for the UK’s transport network. The combination of strong winds, heavy rain and pre-existing ground saturation increases the likelihood of fallen branches, debris and localised flooding on key trunk roads and motorways. High-sided vehicles will be particularly vulnerable in exposed sections of the M4 and M5 corridors, in the Severn crossings region, along elevated stretches of the A55 in North Wales and on open routes across Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor.

Rail operators are also braced for potential speed restrictions, especially in areas covered by wind and rain warnings. Trees and loose objects caught by gusts can come down on overhead lines or tracks, while waterlogged embankments may require precautionary inspections. Passengers travelling to and from major hubs including London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow are being advised to check timetables before setting out and to be prepared for extended journey times where safety checks are required.

In the air, gusty conditions in the south west on Tuesday and ongoing showers further north later in the week could lead to “stacking” and minor delays around busy airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh. While the conditions currently forecast are short of the thresholds that typically cause widespread cancellations, aviation experts note that even modest crosswinds, when combined with low cloud and wet runways, can have a cumulative impact on punctuality, particularly during peak travel periods.

Flooding Concerns and Local Preparedness

With the heaviest rain focused on Scottish uplands and already wet catchments, flood agencies and local councils are maintaining close scrutiny of river levels and ground conditions. The combination of fresh rainfall and recent snowmelt means that some rivers may respond quickly, leading to short-notice flood alerts or warnings for communities downstream. Low-lying towns, villages and farmland adjacent to major rivers in the Highlands and northeast could see fields inundated and minor roads cut off, even where main routes remain passable.

In England and Wales, shorter bursts of rain on saturated ground may lead to flashier responses in smaller streams and urban drainage systems. Underpasses, poorly drained junctions and low-lying car parks around cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Bristol are often the first to see standing water when heavy showers coincide with rush hour. Drivers are being reminded not to attempt to cross flooded sections where water depth is uncertain, as even modest flows can conceal manhole covers displaced by pressure in the drainage network.

Local authorities across the warning areas have been urging households and businesses in known flood-prone zones to review flood plans, check the condition of property-level defences such as door barriers and airbrick covers, and ensure that essential items are stored above ground level. Utility companies are also advising customers to keep battery-powered torches, fully charged power banks and basic supplies ready in case falling trees or high winds trigger short-lived power cuts in rural districts.

Advice for Travelers, Holidaymakers and Event Organisers

The timing of this unsettled spell, in the middle of January, coincides with a quieter period for inbound tourism but a busy one for short domestic trips, sporting fixtures and outdoor events. With yellow warnings signalling an elevated risk but not a certainty of severe impacts, tourism bodies are encouraging a balanced approach: travelling is still possible for most people, but itineraries may need to be flexible and focused on indoor attractions where conditions are poorest.

For those due to travel into or within the UK this week, experts recommend keeping plans under review on a day-by-day basis. Checking the latest national and local forecasts before departure, enabling alerts from transport providers and building extra time into transfers can greatly reduce stress from last-minute changes. Travellers heading for walking holidays, coastal stays or rural retreats in the Highlands, Snowdonia, the South West or the Lake District should ensure they have weather-appropriate clothing, waterproof footwear and a backup plan if high winds or heavy rain close trails or lifts.

Event organisers, particularly those planning outdoor markets, sports fixtures or coastal activities, are watching the forecast track closely. In some cases, moving start times forward or back to avoid the windiest hours, relocating key elements under cover or providing additional sheltered space can allow events to proceed safely despite the poor weather. Insurance and health and safety obligations mean that organisers of high-profile events in exposed locations may still opt to postpone if gusts or rainfall projections worsen, but at present most are adopting a “monitor and adapt” stance rather than cancelling preemptively.

Outlook: Unsettled Pattern Continues Into the Weekend

Looking beyond Friday, forecasters expect the overall pattern of Atlantic-driven low pressure systems to persist into the weekend, though with some signs that conditions may gradually ease. Current computer model output suggests that after the most intense heavy rain in Scotland subsides and strong winds in the south ease, the UK will remain under a regime of mostly cloudy skies, with occasional light rain or showers and temperatures close to or slightly below seasonal averages.

For travellers, that means the most significant disruption is likely to be clustered between Tuesday and Friday, particularly within the areas currently under yellow warnings. However, with the ground already wet and river levels elevated in some catchments, even lighter rain at the weekend could prolong minor flooding in susceptible areas and leave some rural paths and campsites muddy and difficult underfoot. Those with flexible itineraries may prefer to focus on city-based or indoor attractions for a few more days before returning to more exposed landscapes once conditions have fully stabilised.

Forecasters stress that warning areas and timings can change rapidly as new data arrive and that further updates are likely as the week progresses. Visitors and residents alike are therefore urged to continue monitoring official forecasts and local advice. With a combination of preparation, flexibility and up-to-date information, most journeys can still go ahead, albeit with a little more patience required as rain and wind make their presence felt across many of the UK’s best-known destinations this week.