Londoners are unlikely to wake up to a blanket of snow on Christmas morning, forecasters believe.
With just one week left until the nation opens its presents and tucks into Christmas dinner, there has been much talk about whether we’ll have a white Christmas.
Despite earlier suggestions that London could have a frosty start to the festive season, meteorologists now believe the capital might be in for quite a mild Christmas Day.
While the north of the country and families in higher regions may experience a sprinkling of snow, London is set to be pretty pleasant.
The BBC’s weather forecast for December 25 includes “sunny intervals and light winds,” suggesting it’ll be a great day for a family walk through one of London’s many parks.
Temperatures are estimated to reach as high as 13 degrees in London, and rain is unlikely for now.
According to the Met Office: “Temperatures are likely to be around or slightly above average overall, but with any more settled interludes bringing a risk of frost and fog.”
This is just a couple of degrees cooler than last year’s Christmas when parts of London recorded the warmest Christmas Eve in more than 20 years, when the mercury soared to 15.3C.
It’s too early to tell whether London’s NYE fireworks will be dampened by rain, but for now things are looking good.
As London prepares for New Year’s Eve, the weather will become: “widely mild, perhaps exceptionally so in some places, although clearer spells overnight may lead to localised frost and fog.”
News of London’s settled festive conditions is a stark contrast to the blustery week most of the country is currently facing.
While not as severe as the devastating Storm Darragh, which killed two people when it swept the country earlier this month, many parts of the country are expecting more delays because of the wind this week.
Greater London is bracing for wind speeds as high as 45 mph today according to the BBC forecast, which will likely be a bitterly cold wake-up call for commuters this morning.
Some of the highest wind speeds will be clocked around 8am before the gusts gradually subside throughout the day. But by 8pm, the wind will increase again to highs of 45 mph, with temperatures feeling like 10C.
Other parts of the country are forecast to experience even higher gusts of wind, prompting yellow wind warnings and the closure of several roads and bridges.
People across the UK are being told to expect delays in their journeys as road, rail, air, and ferry delays might be likely.
