It’s a GREEN Christmas with no snow or frost anticipated as climate stays delicate and dry – however chills are on the best way
Britain has woken up to a ‘green’ Christmas with no snow or frost expected anywhere in the country.
A ‘dry and cloudy’ Christmas Day is expected across most of the UK, the Met Office said.
The King, Queen and other members of the royal family are due to attend a morning church service in Sandringham so the mild, dry weather will be welcomed by well-wishers waiting to greet them.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said this year will be a ‘green Christmas’ as no snow or frost is expected anywhere in the country.
He said: ‘Great news if you do have travel plans over the next few days, no weather warnings are expected, no disruptive weather – but, as I say, not great news if you want a festive feel and certainly no snow or frost on the way.
‘Certainly no snow expected anywhere in the UK – so it will be a green Christmas.’
Christmas Eve’s mild temperatures peaked with 15.2C at Cassley in Sutherland, northern Scotland, while the lowest temperature recorded was 3.5C in Wattisham, Suffolk.
The UK’s record highest temperature for Christmas Day is 15.6C, which was in Killerton, Devon, in 1920, according to Met Office data.
Britain has been treated to a ‘green’ Christmas with no snow or frost expected across the UK
Temperatures are expected to hit 12C, which is still a way off the record Christmas Day temperature of 1920’s 15.6C
Those dreaming of a white Christmas will be disappointed today, with a ‘dry and cloudy’ day expected, the Met Office said
The chilliest Christmas on record was last year, which saw a low of 12.4C in East Malling, Kent and at Exeter airport in Devon.
Tuesday was slightly lower than the warmest Christmas Eve on record – when a high of 15.6C was measured at Gordon Castle in Banff and in Craibstone, Aberdeenshire, in 1931.
Mr Morgan said: ‘It’s going to stay very similar through the Christmas period, so Christmas Day will dawn cloudy and very mild once again.
‘If you live across northern Scotland, it’s going to be quite windy with gales in the far north and some rain.’
It is also unlikely to be a bright and sunny Christmas Day with skies across the country expected to remain overcast with a few exceptions.
Mr Morgan said: ‘Most places will have a dry and cloudy day.
‘A few places will see a few glimmers of sunshine, but you’ll be fairly lucky to see much brightness on Christmas Day.’
He added: ‘Boxing Day will be very similar – it’s another cloudy and mild day, with a few glimmers of brightness, particularly in north east England and the Midlands.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said this year will be a ‘green Christmas’ as no snow or frost is expected anywhere in the country. Pictured: An elderly couple taking a stroll through Hyde Park in London
‘Some places in northern Scotland like the Shetland Isles should see some sunshine.’
The Met Office said the weather is expected to turn towards January 30 with colder and rainier weather to settle across the UK.
Mr Morgan said: ‘Not a lot changes through the rest of this week and indeed this weekend, but as we move towards the New Year, we could see a change to cooler conditions and wetter conditions more widely.
‘There could be some heavy rain at times and there is an increasing chance of some snow – but it’s too early to say where that snow is going to fall.’
Early morning walkers enjoyed a stunning Christmas sunrise this morning by taking a stroll along the beach.
Men and women donned festive jumpers against the golden backdrop on Longsands Beach in Tynemouth, North Tyneside.
The beach was packed with dog walkers making the most of the fresh air ahead of the big day.
Dozens of swimmers enjoyed the ‘remarkably mild’ weather as they took part in the annual festive sea swim yesterday morning
Despite weather warnings being put in place across the UK at the weekend, temperatures hit 12C on Tuesday, treating the swimmers to a far less chilly plunge than usual
Every year people plunge into the nippy waters of Helen’s Bay in County Down on Christmas Eve to raise money for local charities
Partakers appeared full of Christmas cheer and were pictured wearing santa hats and posing in the water – seemingly grateful for the unseasonably warm conditions
It came as thousands of swimmers across the UK soaked up the ‘remarkably mild’ weather as they took part in annual Christmas sea swims.
Every year people plunge into nippy waters during the festive season to raise money for local charities or simply to get an adrenaline hit before gobbling up their goose.
Despite weather warnings being put in place across the UK at the weekend, temperatures hit 12C yesterday, treating the swimmers to a far less chilly plunge than usual.
At Helen’s Bay in County Down, joyful swimmers appeared full of Christmas cheer wearing Father Christmas hats and posing in the water – seemingly grateful for the unseasonably warm conditions.
