Weather maps are turning icy blue, signaling a sharp temperature drop as a winter freeze approaches large parts of the UK later this month. Some rural areas across five counties could experience overnight lows nearing -5C, with sheltered valleys and glens potentially dipping even colder.
Latest projections from WXCharts show cold air moving southward across the country in the days following Christmas, with widespread overnight frosts expected. The chilliest conditions will likely emerge once high pressure settles in, bringing clear skies and calm winds that drive temperatures down sharply at night.
The five counties most at risk for the coldest temperatures include key rural regions where frost could be most severe. Scotland appears especially vulnerable, along with northern England, which is predicted to face a pronounced chill.
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However, the Met Office offers a more tempered outlook. Their forecast for December 19 to 28 predicts that the period will start unsettled, with showers and heavy rain in some places. Improvements are expected over the weekend, beginning in Scotland and Northern Ireland as rain clears and settled weather develops. Wetter conditions may persist longer in southern areas before high pressure takes hold.
By the following week, the Met Office expects high pressure to dominate, resulting in lighter winds, clearer skies, and isolated coastal showers. While daytime temperatures should settle close to seasonal averages, overnight frosts and morning fog are likely to become more common. Foggy conditions could be slow to clear, potentially causing morning travel disruptions.
In summary, while some weather models hint at severe freezes near -5C in certain areas, official forecasts indicate a cold but typical late-December pattern, featuring frosty nights and clearer skies rather than an extreme cold snap.