People in the north of the UK are bracing for a "wet and very windy Christmas" as Storm Pia makes landfall.
The Met Office has warned of travel disruptions for people heading home for the festive period. There are weather warnings already in place across many parts of the country.
Forecasters say northern regions will be rocked by 80mph winds, with blustery and rainy conditions set to prevail throughout the festive period. Meanwhile, those in London could be in for a milder Christmas, with highs of 12C forecast.
People betting on a white Christmas in the UK might be out of luck, though, unless they're in Scotland.
“On Christmas Day, there’s a chance of showers almost anywhere, and across the high ground of Scotland in particular, these could fall as sleet and snow, which would technically make it a white Christmas, as we only need to see a single flake falling," said Chris Almond, Chief Meteorologist for the Met Office.
"However, for the majority of the UK, it’s unlikely that we’ll see significant snow, but it will likely feel cold in a strong breeze."
Almond continued: “Beyond Christmas Day, a westerly influence on the weather remains the most likely scenario, with further rain or showers and strong winds for many, and again mainly over the hills of Scotland, some sleet and snow is likely, as is often the case in December. Further details will be available closer to the time.”
Why is it so windy in the UK?
Storm Pia is fuelled by a low-pressure pocket sweeping in from the Norwegian Sea. Pressure changes often cause gusts of wind and gales to blow stronger than usual.
As a result of stormy conditions, many parts of the country will experience strong wind, heavy rain, and severe disruption to travel.
Geographically speaking, the UK is often subjected to strong winds, especially during winter, because of a jet stream that causes changes to wind and pressure.
The Met Office explained that the jet stream is stronger in winter because of temperature differences, often contributing to wet and unsettling weather.
Weather experts have released a guide for people to stay safe amid strong winds.
Will Storm Pia impact Christmas?
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for parts of northern England on Thursday (December 21) as a result of high winds. It is expected to last until 9pm.
Throughout the day, people in these regions should expect travel delays as well as potential power cuts, a surge of coastal waves, and toppled trees.
The wind speed is expected to be as high as 70-80mph in northern Scotland, while it could be as high as 55mph in England.
It is not yet known if the yellow weather alert will be extended or if there will be much disruption on Christmas Day.
Current forecasts expect the likelihood of rain in many parts of the country across the festive period.
