Wednesday 23 Dec - Friday 1 Jan

There is potential for outbreaks of heavy rain in the south at the beginning of this period. Otherwise, a ridge of high pressure is expected to build to the west of the UK, bringing cold conditions, and remaining the dominant pattern for the rest of the year, with many southern and western parts becoming predominantly dry and settled. North and east seeing the greatest chance of showers, with these falling as snow in places, especially on higher ground. A potential for strong winds in the far south at first; later, any strong winds are likely to be confined to the north and perhaps the east. Prevalence of overnight fog and frost is likely increasing, with fog potentially slow to clear. Temperatures either close to or below normal.

 Thursday 31 Dec - Thursday 14 Jan 

High pressure patterns means a good deal of dry weather for many parts, but with overnight frost and fog, with fog being potentially slow to clear. Some periods of wetter weather may develop at times, most likely in the east. Confidence is low, although a change to more unsettled conditions with Atlantic systems moving in from the west is looking likely to occur by the second week of January.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/

 

METO just updated
Wednesday 23 Dec - Friday 1 Jan
There is potential for outbreaks of heavy rain in the south at the beginning of this period. Otherwise, a ridge of high pressure is expected to build to the west of the UK, bringing cold conditions, and remaining the dominant pattern for the rest of the year, with many southern and western parts becoming predominantly dry and settled. North and east seeing the greatest chance of showers, with these falling as snow in places, especially on higher ground. A potential for strong winds in the far south at first; later, any strong winds are likely to be confined to the north and perhaps the east. Prevalence of overnight fog and frost is likely increasing, with fog potentially slow to clear. Temperatures either close to or below normal.

Updated: 16:00 (UTC) on Fri 18 Dec 2020
Friday 1 Jan - Friday 15 Jan
Although confidence is low going into the new year, it looks as though high pressure will remain dominant over the UK, meaning dry but cold weather for many parts. This will increase the potential for overnight frosts and fog formation, with the fog possibly being slow to clear during the day. Some periods of wetter weather may develop at times, most likely in the south and east, and with temperatures forecast to remain colder than average, this precipitation could be wintry at times. Towards mid-January, a gradual change to more unsettled conditions is likely with Atlantic low pressure systems moving in from the west, bringing milder temperatures, rain and stronger winds to the UK.

Updated: 16:00 (UTC) on Fri 18 Dec 2020

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Darren Bett just said on BBC National forecast "turning colder and very BRIEFLY" colder for Christmas. Briefly being the buzz word.

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Darren Bett just said on BBC National forecast "turning colder and very BRIEFLY" colder for Christmas. Briefly being the buzz word.

 Yes i just watched that. Did not look particularly cold for the south although i expect plenty of snow on Scottish Mountains.

Darren Bett just said on BBC National forecast "turning colder and very BRIEFLY" colder for Christmas. Briefly being the buzz word.

Looking at the charts that is of no surprise 

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METO just updated
Wednesday 23 Dec - Friday 1 Jan
There is potential for outbreaks of heavy rain in the south at the beginning of this period. Otherwise, a ridge of high pressure is expected to build to the west of the UK, bringing cold conditions, and remaining the dominant pattern for the rest of the year, with many southern and western parts becoming predominantly dry and settled. North and east seeing the greatest chance of showers, with these falling as snow in places, especially on higher ground. A potential for strong winds in the far south at first; later, any strong winds are likely to be confined to the north and perhaps the east. Prevalence of overnight fog and frost is likely increasing, with fog potentially slow to clear. Temperatures either close to or below normal.

Updated: 16:00 (UTC) on Fri 18 Dec 2020
Friday 1 Jan - Friday 15 Jan
Although confidence is low going into the new year, it looks as though high pressure will remain dominant over the UK, meaning dry but cold weather for many parts. This will increase the potential for overnight frosts and fog formation, with the fog possibly being slow to clear during the day. Some periods of wetter weather may develop at times, most likely in the south and east, and with temperatures forecast to remain colder than average, this precipitation could be wintry at times. Towards mid-January, a gradual change to more unsettled conditions is likely with Atlantic low pressure systems moving in from the west, bringing milder temperatures, rain and stronger winds to the UK.

Updated: 16:00 (UTC) on Fri 18 Dec 2020

 

Quite a change (for a change!) ha!

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Thursday 24 Dec - Saturday 2 Jan

There is potential for outbreaks of heavy rain in the south at the beginning of this period. Otherwise, a ridge of high pressure is expected to build to the west of the UK, bringing cold conditions, and remaining the dominant pattern for the rest of the year, with many southern and western parts becoming predominantly dry and settled. North and east seeing the greatest chance of showers, with these falling as snow in places, especially on higher ground. A potential for strong winds in the far south at first; later, any strong winds are likely to be confined to the north and perhaps the east. Prevalence of overnight fog and frost is likely increasing, with fog potentially slow to clear. Temperatures either close to or below normal.

Saturday 2 Jan - Saturday 16 Jan

Although confidence is low going into the new year, it looks as though high pressure will remain dominant over the UK, meaning dry but cold weather for many parts. This will increase the potential for overnight frosts and fog formation, with the fog possibly being slow to clear during the day. Some periods of wetter weather may develop at times, most likely in the south and east, and with temperatures forecast to remain colder than average, this precipitation could be wintry at times. Towards mid-January, a gradual change to more unsettled conditions is likely with Atlantic low pressure systems moving in from the west, bringing milder temperatures, rain and stronger winds to the UK.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/

 

Updated Met Office forecast now refers to the potential for snow as we approach New Year:

Friday 25 Dec - Sunday 3 Jan
An area of high pressure is expected over the west of the UK during Christmas Day and Boxing Day, bringing cold and generally dry conditions for most. A few showers may occur in eastern coastal areas, and light rain and stronger winds will affect the northwest. Fog formation and overnight frosts are possible over these days, more so in the south. Towards the new year, a shift to far more unsettled conditions is looking likely. Atlantic low pressure systems could bring potentially stormy weather at times, with strong northerly winds, heavy rain, and potentially snow. These conditions being more severe in the north but could affect all areas of the UK at times. Temperatures either close to or below average for the time of year.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Sun 20 Dec 2020

Saturday 2 Jan - Saturday 16 Jan
Although confidence is low going into the new year, it looks as though high pressure will remain dominant over the UK, meaning dry but cold weather for many parts. This will increase the potential for overnight frosts and fog formation, with the fog possibly being slow to clear during the day. Some periods of wetter weather may develop at times, most likely in the south and east, and with temperatures forecast to remain colder than average, this precipitation could be wintry at times. Towards mid-January, a gradual change to more unsettled conditions is likely with Atlantic low pressure systems moving in from the west, bringing milder temperatures, rain and stronger winds to the UK.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Sun 20 Dec 2020

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Great forecast especially for Northern areas, the move to a more mobile pattern in 3 weeks might be short lived if the SSW comes off and splits the PV in the right place. Good times

Longer term just updated
Sunday 3 Jan - Sunday 17 Jan
High pressure may build from the southwest at the start of January, bringing more settled conditions to the UK. Northwesterly winds are likely, bringing wintery showers to western and northern areas, and causing the east to experience drier weather. These settled conditions are likely to persist for the rest of this period, increasing the potential for overnight frosts and fog formation, with the fog possibly being slow to clear during the day. Although less likely, there is still a chance that a few low pressure systems may affect the UK, temporarily bringing bouts of rain, stronger winds and milder temperatures. Temperatures will likely remain below average, though short-lived spells of more average temperatures are possible.
Martin

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Good update 

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Great update that ❄ Hopefully we'll be in prime position here to catch a few good dumpings over the coming week or two 😁

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The ‘early’ part of the extended caught my eye:
‘ Towards the new year, a shift to far more unsettled conditions is looking likely. Atlantic low pressure systems could bring potentially stormy weather at times, with strong northerly winds, heavy rain, and potentially snow. These conditions being more severe in the north but could affect all areas of the UK at times.’

That is a major endorsement that something very interesting is developing in the next few weeks.

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After watching the Countryfile F/cast all i can see is a cold blip on Christmas Eve then that huge High plonking itself to the S of the UK as usual and bringing us mild crap while most of Europe is plunged into a sub-zero snowy period, all the models are saying otherwise but the f/casts are changing every few days due to the unpredictability of our modern climate, and they usually change for the worse ie milder in winter as far as our country is concerned, be nice to be proved wrong however i don't think it's likely...

After watching the Countryfile F/cast all i can see is a cold blip on Christmas Eve then that huge High plonking itself to the S of the UK as usual and bringing us mild crap while most of Europe is plunged into a sub-zero snowy period, all the models are saying otherwise but the f/casts are changing every few days due to the unpredictability of our modern climate, and they usually change for the worse ie milder in winter as far as our country is concerned, be nice to be proved wrong however i don't think it's likely...

Yes that's how I see it too

Whatever setup the models predict looking out, it always seems to manage to contrive a collapse into an Azores strong ridge and a zonal mild cruddy SWly

Just like the "Strange Attractor" in chaos theory

 

 

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Saturday 26 Dec - Monday 4 Jan

A ridge of high pressure extending across the country on Christmas Day bringing mainly dry conditions with southern areas seeing the most prolonged sunshine. Rather cold with a widespread frost to start the day. Cloud amounts increasing from northwest with more unsettled conditions spreading southeast across the country into Boxing Day. Very unsettled conditions continuing to dominate through to the end of the year with spells of heavy rain and strong winds. After a milder interlude on Boxing Day, turning colder again with hill snow expected, also a chance of snow down to lower levels in places. Rather cold, showery conditions look likely to continue into early January. However, there is an increased chance of pressure building from the southwest which may bring drier, more settled conditions for a time.

Monday 4 Jan - Monday 18 Jan

A continuation of rather cold, showery conditions look most likely to continue through the early part of January with showers likely wintry in places. There remains a chance of some more settled spells developing from the southwest at times. These would bring more widespread overnight frosts and fog patches. By mid-January confidence in the prevailing weather patterns becomes much more uncertain. There are tentative signs that more unsettled conditions will develop widely again with temperatures returning to around average.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/

 

After watching the Countryfile F/cast all i can see is a cold blip on Christmas Eve then that huge High plonking itself to the S of the UK as usual and bringing us mild crap while most of Europe is plunged into a sub-zero snowy period, all the models are saying otherwise but the f/casts are changing every few days due to the unpredictability of our modern climate, and they usually change for the worse ie milder in winter as far as our country is concerned, be nice to be proved wrong however i don't think it's likely...

??? But the CF was bang on with the models , I don't understand your comments 

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6pm BBC forecast for after Boxing Day said the emphasis was on heavy rain and then cold and could get quote " interesting".

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6pm BBC forecast for after Boxing Day said the emphasis was on heavy rain and then cold and could get quote " interesting".

Yes same on the 21:55 . I think they are starting to see the "potential" for something very wintry but are just seeing how it plays out 

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Yes same on the 21:55 . I think they are starting to see the "potential" for something very wintry but are just seeing how it plays out 

Louise Lear obviously () a fan of TWO back in the day as "Interesting" was a classic one liner accompanied by a link  to a cold FI chart in the 2004-2006 era.

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