Christmas Day could be warmest in years with temperatures set to hit 14°C
Christmas Day could be the warmest in decades as temperatures in the UK are set to hit 14ºC.
Dreams of a white Christmas have been shattered for much of the country with warmer-than-average weather forecast for 25 December.
Forecasters could not rule out temperatures reaching as high as 16ºC across parts of Yorkshire on Christmas Eve, which would make it the hottest December 24 on record.
Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud said: “Sunday is expected to be a very warm day for late December.
“Some parts of the country expecting around 14 or even 15 and we can’t totally rule out an isolated 16ºC, so there is the potential for it to be the warmest Christmas Eve on record, but we’re probably looking at the warmest for about 20 years.”
He added: “The temperatures will peak today, there is a slight downward trend in temperatures for Christmas Day but we’re still expecting them to be comfortably above average.
“We’re looking at 13 and 14ºC tomorrow, we’re probably looking the warmest Christmas Day since 2016, when we actually hit 15.1ºC.”
The warmest December 25 on record was 15.6ºC in 1920, while the highest Christmas Eve temperatures of 15.5ºC were set in Aberdeen and Banff in Scotland in 1931.
Mr Stroud said the UK is drawing southern, warmer air.
Monday is set to be damp for much of the country, with heavy rain possible in Wales.
There is a possibility for bright breaks in between but it is set to be blustery and will feel colder than Sunday for most.
Some snow is predicted for the mountains in Scotland on Christmas Day.
It will follow gusts up to 70mph hit much of Scotland and northern and central areas of England on Christmas Eve.
A white Christmas is defined by the Met Office as a single snowflake falling on Christmas Day.
Yellow weather warnings for wind and rain are in place for much of Central and Southern Scotland, and parts of England and Wales.
Boxing Day is set to be brighter and drier with sunny spells for many areas of the UK.
Conditions will turn unsettled again from Wednesday with strong winds, heavy rain, and snow over hills in the north.
The Met Office has issued several yellow weather warnings for Wednesday, including one for rain and snow in Scotland.
People in the affected areas have been warned to expect power cuts, difficult driving conditions and travel delays.
It is also possible that some rural communities could become cut off and some homes and businesses could be flooded.
