Image source, EPA/ShutterstockByStav DanaosLead Weather PresenterPublished16 October 2026, 06:51 BSTUpdated 30 minutes agoA brighter but chillier weekend is forecast as high pressure takes hold across the UK, following a week of fluctuating temperatures.
Northerly winds on Friday will bring in colder air, with daytime temperatures falling back to around the October average of 10 to 16C (50-61F).
Some areas will see their coldest spell of the autumn so far. Clear skies and light winds overnight could lead to patchy fog and some frost away from coastal areas.
The cooler conditions follow unseasonably warm weather earlier this week when it felt more like late summer in some areas, with exceptionally mild nights.
A northerly airflow will bring an observable drop in temperatures to the UK as high pressure extends eastwards.
This will set the scene for a mainly bright end to the week.
Most areas can expect sunny spells, although scattered showers may linger in northern and western parts on Friday before reaching south-east England over the weekend.
Image caption, High pressure will usher colder air (shown in blue) across the UK, bringing a more autumnal feel this weekend.
Despite the chillier feel, temperatures will be closer to the average for the time of year.
This comes after some unseasonable warmth this week.
Thursday saw Holbeach in Lincolnshire record a temperature of 22.8C, closely followed by Heathrow and Northolt at 22.7C.
A fresh breeze will also make it feel colder, particularly along eastern coasts of both Scotland and England.
Nighttime temperatures could fall into single figures across most of the UK.
Patchy mist and fog may develop, along with a risk of frost. Parts of rural Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England could even see temperatures dip below freezing.
While it could be the coldest spell of this autumn so far in some areas, these temperatures are not that unusual for the time of year.
Image source, PAImage caption, Huge wave crashing over Roker lighthouse in Sunderland during a storm
The latest forecast data increasingly points towards a change in the weather pattern as we head into the new week.
High pressure is expected to retreat, allowing Atlantic low-pressure systems bearing rain, wind and milder air to move in as the jet stream strengthens.
Some of the developing low-pressure systems could become particularly deep, raising the prospect of some very wet and windy conditions, with the potential for stormy weather at times.
This shift could bring much-needed rain to drought-hit parts of England and Wales, particularly southern and south-west England, where severe drought has been declared.
However, the exact track and strength of the incoming weather systems remain uncertain, and the forecast could change over the coming days.
Keep up to date with the forecast via the BBC Weather website and app.
You can read our latest thoughts on the forecast even further ahead in our monthly outlook.
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