Washing Weather This Week

White sheets drying on a line in an English garden under a pale sky

The Drying Forecast · week of 2 November

Washing weather

Four cities, seven days. When to peg out, and when to leave it to the airer.

Peg out Early, in by three Airer day

London

South East
Mon2Peg out
Tue3Airer day
Wed4Early, in by three
Thu5Peg out
Fri6Peg out
Sat7Early, in by three
Sun8Early, in by three

Best: Thursday, then Friday

Bristol

South West
Mon2Peg out
Tue3Peg out
Wed4Peg out
Thu5Peg out
Fri6Peg out
Sat7Early, in by three
Sun8Peg out

Best: Almost any day

Manchester

North West
Mon2Early, in by three
Tue3Airer day
Wed4Peg out
Thu5Peg out
Fri6Peg out
Sat7Peg out
Sun8Early, in by three

Best: Wednesday to Saturday

Edinburgh

Scotland
Mon2Peg out
Tue3Airer day
Wed4Peg out
Thu5Early, in by three
Fri6Early, in by three
Sat7Airer day
Sun8Early, in by three

Best: Monday or Wednesday

Read from the Met Office on Monday 2 November. New every Sunday evening.

Linen drying on a ceiling pulley airer in a stone laundry room

On an airer day

Slower, but it still dries

  • The airer, not the radiator.
  • A window open a crack.
  • A hand’s width between each piece.
  • Linen off while still a little damp. Iron it then.
How we read the sky

Peg out: no more than a 20% chance of rain all day, 10°C or warmer, gusts of 10 mph or more.
Early, in by three: one of those falls short.
Airer day: 40% chance of rain or more, or showers.
Our own rule of thumb, read from the Met Office forecast.

What makes a good drying day?

Dry air and a little breeze. Wind matters more than warmth.

Can you dry washing outside in November?

On the right morning, yes. Peg out early and bring it in before the light goes.

How do I dry clothes indoors in winter?

On an airer, not a radiator. A window open a crack, and space between each piece.

Every Sunday at six, the same forecast in our Instagram stories.