The Met Office has issued weather warnings for cold and windy conditions across parts of the UK, but has said a white Christmas is “highly unlikely”. A yellow cold health alert for south-west England, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), will be in force from 6pm on Thursday until noon on 27 December, while a yellow wind warning covers a similar area and much of Wales until 11.59pm on Christmas Day.
The UKHSA said low temperatures were likely to have minor impacts on health and social care services, including increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and a greater risk to life for those most at risk. The Met Office warned that east to north-easterly winds would become particularly strong during Christmas Day, with gusts expected to peak widely at 45–55mph, and 55–65mph possible along some exposed coasts and to the west of prominent hills.
“This could lead to some disruption to transport and power supplies,” the Met Office said, adding that large waves would be an additional hazard on some coasts. Spokesperson Oli Claydon said Thursday would see “pretty decent” conditions with mainly dry weather. He noted a quite strong easterly wind, particularly across the south coast of England, and said high pressure was now firmly in control, bringing a more settled spell and cooler temperatures.
Claydon said it was “highly unlikely” that the UK would see a white Christmas this year, adding that “we’ve got a very dry picture across the UK over the next few days”. By 8am on Thursday, no snow had been confirmed at any Met Office station. Meteorologist Zoe Hutin explained that snow would need to be observed at one of the agency’s stations to be officially confirmed.
Jersey, which is not part of the UK, recorded snowflakes at its airport at about 4.45am, making it the third official white Christmas on the island since records began, according to the Jersey Met Section. Christmas Day temperatures were forecast to be about 7C in north-east England and 6C in south or south-east England. Frost and freezing temperatures are likely in western rural areas overnight into Boxing Day, with -6C possible in rural parts of Scotland and -4C in rural Wales.
