The Met Office has outlined a crisp and bright but decidedly chilly forecast for the festive period across the United Kingdom. While Christmas Day will bring sunshine for many, strong easterly winds will make it feel bitterly cold, with temperatures feeling close to freezing for much of the country.
A Brisk and Frosty Festive Start
Forecasters indicate that the cold snap will begin on Christmas Eve, with brisk winds developing across England and Wales. Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell explained that while temperatures on the thermometer will be slightly below average—generally peaking at around 6C or 7C—the significant wind chill will make it feel much colder. "It will probably feel more like freezing from Christmas Eve onwards," Ms Mitchell stated.
Most areas will wake up to a frosty Christmas morning, with the mercury struggling to climb. During the Christmas period itself, maximum temperatures for most are expected to be just 4C or 5C. Overnight, conditions will turn even sharper, with temperatures forecast to plummet below freezing across large parts of the nation. Northern Scotland could see lows of minus 5C.
Sunshine, Waves, and a Slim Chance of Snow
Despite the cold, the weather for December 24th and 25th is predicted to be largely dry and sunny for most, although eastern areas may experience cloudier conditions. The strong easterly winds, primarily affecting southern parts of the UK, also carry implications for traditional festive activities.
These winds will generate big waves, posing a challenge for Christmas Day and Boxing Day swimmers attempting their annual dips. As for the prospect of a white Christmas, forecasters are not anticipating widespread snowfall. However, there remains a very small chance of snow flurries on Dartmoor as afternoon rain showers push into parts of Devon and Cornwall on Christmas Day.
Looking Ahead to New Year's Eve
The settled but cold theme is set to continue through the Christmas period. Becky Mitchell described it as "a bit colder than average, not unusual for the time of year" and summarised the outlook as "quite a nice forecast." Boxing Day is expected to see some cloud build-up in southern counties but will remain largely dry with sunny spells elsewhere.
Looking further ahead, weather maps suggest a more significant change as the year ends. There are indications that a sharp temperature drop on New Year's Eve could bring a likelihood of snow, with conditions being hailed as a potential return of the 'Beast from the East' weather pattern. Experts warn that fierce easterly winds will make it feel much colder than the actual air temperature, with parts of the Home Counties and north-east England potentially feeling as cold as -6C.
