Unseasonably warm weather across the UK has led to daffodils blooming as far north as Chester and Northern Ireland, with forecasters reporting one of the mildest starts to December in over 50 years. Daytime temperatures have been up to 10°C above the seasonal average, causing flowers more typically associated with Easter to appear before Christmas.
Greg Dewhurst, a Met Office forecaster, attributed the mild conditions to a series of low-pressure systems bringing warm air from the south. He noted that the usual cold weather patterns have been prevented from settling in due to the persistent mild, windy, and cloudy conditions.
Guy Barter, chief horticultural adviser at the Royal Horticultural Society, described this as the earliest he can recall seeing daffodils in bloom. “I have always scoffed at the idea of flowers before Christmas but I will have to eat my words,” he said, adding that the consequences of this unusual weather are unknown.
Bookmakers have shortened the odds on Christmas being the warmest on record, with Coral cutting odds from 5/1 to 2/1. Spokesman John Hill noted that the chance of a white Christmas is now considered a long shot. Meanwhile, a Sahara dust cloud is expected to bring high pollution levels to southern and central England, prompting health warnings for vulnerable individuals.
