Issued: 0900 Saturday 17th December 2022
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

A mild and windy week but cold air never far away bringing threat of snow to hills

Temperatures rising as Atlantic air takes back control of conditions across the British Isles. This is going to be bringing an unsettled week with wind, rain and some hill snow. Gales may occur on some days. Northern Scotland may well stay in colder air with the threat of more significant snow on hills here.

For the weather for the next few days click here

Tuesday 20/12/22
Some cloud and outbreaks of rain in southeast England on Tuesday. Heavy showers for western Scotland and western Ireland where there will also be gales. Some of the showers wintry over the Scottish Hills. Elsewhere it will be a mostly dry day. Broken cloud in England and Wales, some sunny spells and the best of these in northeast England and eastern Scotland. Scattered showers may afect western coasts and hills on England and Wales. Highs at 12C in southeast England, 7C in Ireland and Scotland.

Wednesday 21/12/22
Low pressure passing east of Scotland. This brings strong winds and some rain and heavy showers to many western and southern areas of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the far north of England. Some sleet on hills. Breezy for the rest of England and Wales, the threat of some showery rain through the far south of England. Highs at 6 to 9C.

Thursday 22/12/22
Low pressure west of Ireland on Thursday. An area of rain sweeps eastwards through all areas, some of it heavy in the west. As it meets colder air across Scotland there is the risk of some snow over the hills here, especially the Grampians and Southern Uplands, but also a threat of snow over the Pennines. Highs at 12C in southern areas, 4C in Scotland.

Friday 23/12/22
An area of low pressure crossing from west to east on Friday. This brings more heavy rain and strong winds, as well as further snow to parts of Scotland and the hills of northern England . Turning brighter and more showers in the south, although still with heavy showers. Tops at 2 to 4C in Scotland, 11C in southern England.

Christmas Eve 24/12/22
Low pressure west of Ireland on Christmas Eve. This brings cloud, drizzle and some outbreaks of rain to Ireland and much of the west and south of England and Wales. A risk of some heavier rain in western and southern Scotland with snow on hills. Snow afecting the Pennines too. Highs at 3 to 10C.

Christmas Day 25/12/22
The area of low pressure is expected to be drifting north of Scotland on Christmas Day. This brings some sunny spells and mild weather in the south of England. A fews showers for western Wales, western England and the west of Scotland. Highs at 4 to 9C.