Updated Saturday 25th November 2006. Valid Tuesday 28th November to Wednesday 27th December 2006
Cold mid-December, mixed Christmas
Although there is still some lack of confidence in the pattern, it does seem that conditions are set to remain very unsettled and mixed throughout the first half of the period with low pressure in control of the flow. Thereafter conditions are likely to settle down as high pressure takes up station to the west of the UK. Although rather mild at first there are definite indications that conditions are set to turn considerably colder during the middle of December for a time. Mixed conditions through the Christmas period before another rather cold spell develops toward New Year.
02/12 - 08/12 Unsettled through all area, showers or longer spells of rain, windy and rather cool with low pressure close to the UK. A rather cool and showery mixture through the early part of the week although a weak ridge of transitory high pressure may bring a short spell of drier conditions to southern areas of England and Wales, showers or longer spells of rain continuing north. Further outbreaks of rain and strengthening winds approaching the northwest, extending south and east through the latter stages of the period, winds mainly from the west or southwest.
09/12 - 15/12 Low pressure crossing to the north of the UK, rather windy and cool with outbreaks of rain. Becoming much colder everywhere with a northerly plunge of arctic air expected as the low moves east and pressure rises to the west. A sleety mixture over the south of the UK rather more wintry in nature over the north, widespread overnight frost expected. Wintry showers continuing across the north and east through to mid-week, drier and sunnier in the west and southwest as pressure builds, less cold in the west later.
16/12 - 22/12 Cloud and rain approaching the west, this extending east perhaps with a leading edge of wintry weather before all areas turn milder. Unsettled over the north with outbreaks of rain and strong winds, some rain too over the south although a greater chance of some drier and brighter spells through mid-week, further rain for all areas by the end of the week.
23/12 - 27/12 High pressure building to the west of Ireland although remaining low to the northwest and north, a cool run of northwesterly air. Low pressure is expected to run east across to the north of the UK, and although mostly rain is expected to extending south through all areas as winds turn northerly it is quite possible that showers will turn wintry through the Christmas period. At the moment the areas at greatest risk of wintry showers looks likely to be the north and east of Scotland together with eastern coastal areas of England, Cold everywhere with overnight frost and patch fog for a time as winds fall light under higher pressure.