Christmas Day forecast revealed by Met Office
Forecasters predict Christmas Day will be cold and windy in the UK, but the sun will shine for many.
Many people will wake up to a chilly Christmas Day morning as the Met Office warns that strong winds from Christmas Eve will bring slightly below average temperatures to near freezing across much of the country.
Although the forecast has cast doubt on the possibility of a white Christmas for most people, there is a slight chance of snow falling on Dartmoor as afternoon showers move into parts of Devon and Cornwall.
Swimmers in the south on Christmas Day and Boxing Day may experience large waves due to easterly winds. Christmas Eve and Day will be dry and sunny for most, with cloudier weather expected in the east.
Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell said: “The weather will cool down from Christmas Eve with strong winds across much of England and Wales, so temperatures on the thermometer will be slightly below average: generally around 6C or 7C maximum.
“And when you add to that the coolness of the easterly wind, you’re likely to feel more freezing starting on Christmas Eve.”
Weather maps show temperatures will peak at 4C or 5C over the Christmas period in most areas. Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing overnight across much of the country, with northern Scotland potentially reaching minus 5C.
Clouds may build up in some southern counties on Boxing Day, but elsewhere it will remain largely dry with sunny skies.
“The weather was slightly cooler than average, which is not unusual for that time of year, but it would be slightly cooler than average,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The weather is really similar towards New Year’s Eve. The Christmas season is a pretty good forecast.”
This is a colder Christmas than the UK has seen in recent years, making it too close to decide whether 2025 will break the record as the country’s warmest year. Currently, the year’s average temperature through December 21 is well ahead of the previous highest, set in 2022. The average temperature is currently forecast to settle at 10.05C, compared to 2022’s record-breaking 10.03C.
If the record is confirmed, it would be the second year in the observation record that the UK’s average annual temperature has exceeded 10.0C.
Tuesday evening:
Showers are tapering off in Scotland, otherwise it’s mostly dry. Cloudy for most, with a few breaks developing west of any peaks. Windy away from the north.
Wednesday:
Mostly dry with varying amounts of clouds. Some sunny weather, these are usually in the south and west. Windy across much of England and Wales. I feel colder than on Tuesday.
Outlook from Thursday to Saturday:
During the Christmas period, the clouds clear and reveal more sunny weather. It is largely dry, but it is also feeling cold, with significant windchill across England and Wales. Frosty at night.
