It will be wet and windy after Christmas with temperatures slightly below normal at times, according to the Met Office - but colder conditions won't develop til later in the new year. On Wednesday, the Meteorological Office debunked the idea that Wales was set to get a white Christmas this year, with the forecaster saying only the mountaintops such as in Eryri and the Brecon Beacons will see snow.
While temperatures have risen this week, some reports have suggested that temperatures could plummet as the UK is set to head for a new Arctic blast of cold weather after Christmas. According to the Met Office, Wales and the rest of the UK will see a wet and windy end to December with temperatures also set to decrease, but colder conditions won't develop until mid-January.
The outlook for Saturday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) to Monday, December 26 (Boxing Day) is set to be changeable for the Christmas weekend, according to the forecaster. In Wales, we can expect showers and longer periods of rain interspersed by sunny spells. The Met Office added that it will be a rather mild start to the weekend, although temperatures will drop closer to average on Boxing Day.
Read more: What the Met Office has to say about 'snow burst' coming at Christmas
However, Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst told the Mirror that colder air is again coming down from the Arctic over the weekend. He stated: "The jet stream remains close to the UK meaning low pressures will move in from the Atlantic, orange on the map meaning fairly mild at the moment but if we run the sequence through over the next few days we might see some colder air trying to push down from the north. This may introduce some colder air across central parts and northern parts as we enter the Christmas weekend."
The Met Office forecast for Wales:
Friday:
"A band of rain, locally heavy, sweeping north across the country. Sunny spells follow, but the rain only clearing the north by evening. Mild, though tempered by the brisk breeze. Maximum temperature 12 °C."
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
"Changeable for the Christmas weekend with showers and longer periods of rain interspersed by sunny spells. Rather mild to start but temperatures dropping closer to average for Boxing Day. Breezy."
UK long range weather forecast:
Tuesday, December 27 - Thursday, January 5:
"On Tuesday, strong winds, cloud and outbreaks of rain and drizzle will spread eastwards across much of the UK. The heaviest rain will be in the west with drier conditions perhaps spreading to the north later.
"Temperatures are expected to become increasingly mild through the day. For the rest of the period, changeable weather conditions are likely across most parts of the UK. Showers or longer spells of rain are expected across many regions, with the heaviest rain in the west and some snow across Highlands of Scotland.
"These unsettled conditions will likely be interspersed by drier and brighter spells. Temperatures will be variable, but overall, they will most likely be close to or slightly below normal, with a lower chance of mild conditions."
Friday, January 6 - Friday, January 20:
"Confidence remains low into mid-January. There is a signal for generally settled conditions, although some periods of wet and windy weather are still possible and with this will come the chance of snow.
"Temperatures are likely to be around or a little below normal, with colder conditions perhaps developing again by mid-January."
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