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Cold blast for the New Year

[Updated 07:45 28/12/2016]

Wednesday begins with patchy fog and a widespread frost across the southern half of the UK. Locally temperatures have fallen to -6C (21F) overnight. The north is milder and cloudier.

Through the day it remains dry and sunny spells develop, but in places the fog will be slow to lift. The north west has quite a windy day and thicker cloud brings patchy outbreaks of rain.

Maximum temperatures range from about 4C (39F) to 7C (45F). See the rainfall radar for the latest view.

Tonight frost and fog return to England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland remain cloudier and in the west spells of light rain continue.

During Thursday and Friday high pressure keeps the weather dry weather in the southern half of the UK but it will be chilly. The north stays more changeable.

As we head through the weekend high pressure becomes centred to the west of the UK. This opens the gate for a cold front and outbreaks of rain to sweep southwards. A blast of cold arctic air follows on behind and this brings the risk of snow showers to the north on New Year's Day.

Forecast details for next week are uncertain but it looks set to stay quite cold. There is a low to moderate risk of bitterly cold Siberian air punching its way in from the east at some point during the next two weeks. This would bring a risk of snow showers to the south and east. 

Buzz looks ahead to January.

Ensembles at a glance

The 16 day GEFS ensemble shows a cold snap developing around the New Year. Thereafter a more changeable and rather cold pattern is suggested with a low to moderate risk of snow.