London weather: Warm sunshine with 17C highs on the way after weeks of winter gloom

London is set to enjoy a welcome spell of warm spring sunshine this week, as forecasters predict a marked improvement following months of dreary winter weather.

According to the Met Office, conditions will brighten significantly on Tuesday and Wednesday, with sunshine replacing the intense storms and overcast skies that have dominated much of the season. Temperatures are expected to reach highs of 14°C on Tuesday and 17°C on Wednesday.

The brighter outlook follows a comparatively pleasant weekend, with temperatures peaking at 14°C on both Saturday and Sunday — among the milder days seen in recent months.

Despite the recent lift, the UK has endured a notably dull and wet winter overall. Sunshine levels have reached only around 70% of the seasonal average so far, while rainfall across the country has been higher than the 30-year norm. However, conditions have varied significantly by region.

Meteorological winter, which runs from December through to the end of February, is assessed using 30-year climate averages. Met Office senior meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said the season may not appear “remarkable” at first glance, but regional data reveals stark contrasts across the UK.

Eastern Scotland has recorded 114% of its typical winter rainfall, while northern and north-western Scotland have seen just 60%. The Midlands has experienced particularly wet conditions at 140% of average rainfall, compared with 90% in north-west England.

Explaining the uneven distribution, Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said a southward shift in the jet stream — influenced by freezing conditions in North America — pushed low-pressure systems further south than usual. A persistent blocking pattern then caused these systems to stall, creating a semi-permanent south-easterly flow across the UK.

This pattern funnelled rain from surrounding seas into south-west England, eastern Scotland and eastern parts of Northern Ireland, while western Scotland remained noticeably drier.

The Met Office added that climate change provides important context for the wetter conditions. As global temperatures rise, the atmosphere can hold around 7% more moisture for every 1°C of warming, increasing the likelihood of heavier and more intense downpours when rain occurs. Projections suggest that powerful storms like those seen this winter are becoming more probable in a warming climate.