UK Weather: Christmas Set To Be 'Unseasonably Mild'

A Mild Christmas

Britons will enjoy an "unseasonably mild" Christmas Day and Boxing Day, weather forecasters said.

Across the country, temperatures of between 11C (51.8F) and 14C (57.2F) have dashed hopes of a white Christmas.

It leaves temperatures close to the warmest on record for this time of year, registered when the mercury hit 15.6C (60F) on December 25 in 1896 and 1920.

Aisling Creevey, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the Press Association's weather division, said: "Christmas Day will be mild and windy.

"Temperatures could reach 14C eastern areas, with 14C forecast in Aberdeen and Middlesbrough.

"Wales might see 14C too, and London could see 13C (55.4F).

"Everywhere in the UK will be between 11C and 14C.

"It's unseasonably mild this year and a white Christmas is highly unlikely."

Despite the mild temperatures, severe gales are expected in parts of the country, with gusts of up to 85mph forecast for the Shetland Islands and around 65mph in northern Scotland.

Ms Creevey added: "Heavy train is expected in north-west Scotland. There will be patchy light rain or drizzle at times in north-west England, Wales, and south-west England, but elsewhere it will be mostly dry."

Football fans - and fans of good weather in general - can look forward to some holiday sport without the usual chill, as Boxing Day is also set to be a mild day.

"After Boxing Day temperatures will slowly start to fall back, returning to closer to what we'd expect at this time of year," Ms Creevey said.

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