The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for strong winds up to 65mph across south-west England and Wales on Christmas Day, while confirming it is highly unlikely the UK will see a white Christmas
While a White Christmas may not be on the cards for the UK today, the Met Office has cautioned against complacency as chilly and blustery conditions are still expected.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow cold health alert from 6pm on Thursday (December 25) to noon on December 27 for south-west England. Similarly, the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind affecting the same region and much of Wales, in effect until 11.59pm on Christmas Day.
According to the UKHSA, the low temperatures could slightly affect everyone’s immune system, potentially leading to “increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people” and posing a “greater risk to life of vulnerable people”.
The Met Office further warned that east to north-easterly winds will intensify and become gusty during Christmas Day, with peak gusts widely reaching 45-55mph. However, gusts could reach 55-65mph along some exposed coasts and to the west of prominent hills.
The Met Office also noted that “given the more unusual wind direction, this may lead to some disruption to transport and power supplies”, and that “large waves will be an additional hazard on some coasts”, reports Lancs Live.
Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said that Thursday would see “pretty decent” conditions with mainly dry weather. Speaking to the Press Association, he said: “On Christmas Day there will be a bright start in the south of England and then into Wales as well as the cloud clears.
“It will be cloudier further north, but there will be some cloud breaks starting to break through by lunchtime, and some good sunny spells establishing further north as well.
“The other notable factor will be the wind, so with the positioning of the high pressure there is a quite strong easterly wind, particularly across the south coast of England, so it could be quite gusty there.
“High pressure is now firmly in control of the weather across the UK, bringing a much more settled spell, and also cooler temperatures than we’ve had of late.”
Mr Claydon described it as “highly unlikely” that the UK would experience a white Christmas this year.
He continued: “We’ve got a very dry picture across the UK over the next few days.”
The Met Office had not confirmed any snow by 8am on Thursday. It would require observation at one of the agency’s stations for official confirmation, meteorologist Zoe Hutin explained.
Jersey, which lies outside the UK, has witnessed some snowflakes, marking it as the third official white Christmas since records began, according to the Jersey Met Section.
The snow was spotted at Jersey Airport at approximately 4.45am, Ms Hutin confirmed.
Mr Claydon predicted the peak temperatures on Christmas Day would reach around 7C in north-east England and 6C in south or south-east England.
He warned that frost and sub-zero temperatures are expected in western rural areas overnight on Christmas Day into Boxing Day, with minus 6C possible in rural parts of Scotland and minus 4C in rural Wales.