The majority of the UK is set to be hit by a polar blast just before Christmas, with temperatures plummeting to below freezing in some locations – with only certain areas avoiding it
Weather maps have shown where temperatures are set to plummet, although some areas are set to avoid the brunt of it – for now.
Conditions in Scotland will be the coldest on December 24 – Christmas Eve – where anyone doing last minute shopping can expect -7C in some places to the west of the country. Slightly further south is a little warmer, although only by a little as southern Scotland will hover around -3C.
In England, the areas around Leeds will be coldest at -2C, but the rest of the country will stay around 0C. In fact, the only two regions spared the brunt of the polar blast are Northern Ireland and south west England.
The Met Office ’s forecast for December 19 to 24 reads: “Monday looks like a mainly dry if largely cloudy day. However, the far north will see some rain, especially northwest Scotland, with some light rain and drizzle likely for west-facing hills elsewhere.
“All parts will be mild. Around the middle of next week, low pressure may dominate, with a spell of mild, wet and windy weather for most places. Thereafter, while high pressure may try and build at times, especially in the south late in the period, the more likely scenario is for an unsettled regime to dominate.
“Spells of wind and rain, perhaps with some hill snow in the north, are likely, followed by blustery showers, these most frequent and perhaps wintry at times in the northwest. Temperatures will vary around average, with oscillations between colder and milder interludes.”
Separate weather maps show on December 24 there will be some heavy snow across 10 counties across the UK. Inverness, Perthshire, Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, as well as Merioneth and Denby in Wales and Country Antrim in Belfast are all likely to be blanketed.
Southern regions including London, Birmingham and Cardiff are forecast for drizzle and single-digit temperatures on Christmas Day, meanwhile, with some snow possible depending on how low the mercury drops.
Forecasters have also said that between December 25 and January 8 most of the country will experience unsettled conditions, especially in the northwest of the country. It adds some sleet and snow is also likely, especially on high ground in the north.
The long-range forecast adds: “However, there are also some signs that more settled conditions are possible at times, these perhaps most likely across the south late in December or into early January. Temperatures are likely to be around or slightly above average overall, but with any more settled interludes bringing a risk of frost and fog.”
