Hi Ed,
Oh dear!!!
On the subject of weather, given the approaching death of Summer. Well, I started in Winter and came to completion just before Winter. I can't fix the weather for you (or u/s planes). Your PPL course will teach you about frustration, optimism and patience.
But! One of the great things I did on my course is the odd bit of "on-top" work above the cloud. Spent a few hours above cloud learning tight turns (good clear horizon) and pretending to be a low-level jet jockey by following terrain around fluffy Cus. Big beam on my face, sun shining... Nnnnice!
Then down again thru a gap in the murk back to the dull Winter. Hey ho.
This is what flying is about (well part of). Escapism. In this case, from crap wx and Winter! Hope you have an instructor who understands this. Ask to go above, given the right circumstances (e.g. nothing else to do, need a horizon, lowish tops, available class G).
-Neil-