Sunday 28/12/03 to Monday 29/12/03
On Sunday, any remaining cloud and rain will quickly clear away from south-east England during the morning. Thereafter, much of England and Wales will have a dry day with sunny spells. Northern parts of England, and parts of North Wales however, will have scattered wintry showers, especially in the morning. Scotland will be very wintry, with northerly gales and heavy snow showers, giving blizzard conditions in places. After a bright start, Ireland and Northern Ireland will cloud over with rain in the afternoon. Overnight, this rain will affect much of Ireland, turning to snow over northern hills. Elsewhere, dry and frosty but with snow showers in Scotland. On Monday, the exact forecast is uncertain even at this time, but gales and rain are expected to sweep across southern England and Wales, turning to snow across Mid-Wales, the Midlands and East Anglia. North of this, staying mostly bright but cold with further snow across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Tuesday 30/12/03 to Wednesday 31/12/03
Tuesday will be a much more settled day across the UK. Many parts will have a frosty but sunny start, and this sunshine will continue in central and eastern parts throughout the afternoon. One or two wintry showers may affect the east coast initially. For western parts of the mainland, together with much of Ireland, cloud will increase in the afternoon with rain, turning to snow over the hills at first. Light winds for most, freshening across western Ireland later. On Wednesday, south-east England will start bright, but will soon cloud over. Elsewhere, a much milder day with a good deal of cloud around and outbreaks of rain. Some of the rain will be heavy, especially around western coasts and hills. The rain may turn to snow for a time over eastern hills. Becoming very windy everywhere, with gales expected in north-west Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Thursday 01/01/04 to Saturday 03/01/04
It will become very much colder once more on New Year's Day, with strong northerly winds developing. Once rain clears southern England, many parts will become bright with sunny spells. Showers will also develop, especially in the north where blizzards are expected over the hills. Friday will also stay bright, but with snow showers extending into eastern England and North Wales. Northern Ireland and Ireland will become cloudier later in the day, with winds easing and outbreaks of rain in places. Saturday looks set to turn milder from the west once more, but not before giving heavy rain or snow across many parts. This situation will be monitored closley, with more detail in the next forcast update.