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Countdown to Christmas

[Updated 08:25 15/12/2016]

Thursday starts dry in many parts of the UK but there are a few light outbreaks of rain dotted around. It is quite mild.

This morning patchy spells of rain affect central and western areas, and through the course of the afternoon wet weather pushes into Northern Ireland. Eastern regions have a dry day but there will be a lot of cloud around.

Maximum temperatures range from about 8C (46F) in the north to 12C (54F) in the south west. See the rainfall radar for the latest view.

Tonight most places become dry but in the north west further outbreaks of rain continue. It remains quite mild.

Tomorrow wet weather affects the north and west. Elsewhere it should be dry.

Through the weekend the southern half of the UK has a good deal of dry weather. In the north it stays more changeable and outbreaks of rain are likely at times. Daytime temperatures will be close to the average but Sunday begins quite cold with a patchy frost in southern and central counties.

Next week a transition to more unsettled conditions is expected to develop and there is a possibility of it becoming stormy. As we head towards the New Year it may turn more settled once again as high pressure returns.

Buzz looks ahead to mid December. The GFS / GEFS computer model suite now covers December 25th so our Christmas Countdown being updated daily.

Ensembles at a glance

The 16 day GEFS ensemble show dry conditions early in the period. Through the Christmas period it turns more unsettled but by the end of the year drier conditions return.