Issued: 0800 Tuesday 22nd December 2020
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Turnings colder through Christmas, wet and windy Boxing Day, then increasingly wintry next week

Colder weather will be affecting all parts of the country through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Gales for Boxing Day with a risk of heavy periods of rain spreading south, before conditions turn cooler into Sunday and next week. An increasing risk of sleet and snow during the week up to New Year.

For the weather for the next few days click here

Christmas Day 25/12/20
A ridge of high-pressure built over the UK and Ireland on Christmas Day. Frost will be widespread in the morning but for most of the day should be dry and bright with good spells of sunshine. Increasing cloud across Scotland, northern and western Ireland, Wales and Northwest England in the afternoon. Rain probably affecting western Scotland by evening. A cold day at 3 to 6C.

Boxing Day 26/12/20
Low-pressure to the north of Scotland for Boxing Day with high-pressure to the south. A gale force wind affects most areas. Rain in northern and western Scotland will be heavy, this reaching northwest England in the afternoon. Patchy outbreaks of rain elsewhere particularly over western coast and hills. Drier in the east. Tops near 5 to 9C.
 

Sunday 27/12/20
An area of rain spreads southwards through England and Wales early on Sunday, this heavy in the south. The rain turns to sleet and wet snow over the hills of Wales and northern England. Brighter in Scotland and Northern Ireland with good spells of sunshine, this brighter and drier weather spreading south through the day. Cooler air moves south with tops at 3 to 7C.

Monday 28/12/20
Low-pressure to the east on Monday. This brings a cold day with some wintry showers, possibly prolonged, over northern and eastern Scotland as well as parts of eastern and western England and Wales. Dry for other areas with sunny spells. Highs at 2 to 5C.

Tuesday 29/12/20
Low pressure remains in control through Tuesday. There may be a few wintry showers affecting eastern coast. An area of more persistent rain, sleet and snow may pass through Ireland and into Wales and west in England. Another cold day. Highs at 2 to 4C.

Wednesday 30/12/20
There may be some sleet and snow across many parts of southern England early on Wednesday. Brighter and colder weather follows from the north with some snow showers around northern and western coasts. Highs at 2 to 5C.