Overview
- A Met Office yellow wind warning runs until 11:59pm for South West England and much of Wales, with east to north‑easterly gusts widely at 45–55mph and 55–65mph on exposed coasts and to the west of hills.
- The UKHSA has a yellow cold‑health alert for south‑west England from 6pm on December 25 to noon on December 27, highlighting increased risks to vulnerable people and potential pressure on health services.
- Meteorologists say a white Christmas is highly unlikely as most areas stay dry with sunny spells, with only a small chance of sleet or hill snow in the far South West, including Dartmoor.
- Strong easterly winds will leave mid to high single‑figure temperatures feeling near freezing, with overnight frosts and lows near -6C in rural Scotland and -4C in rural Wales.
- Officials caution about possible transport and power disruption and large waves on some coasts, while private forecast models suggest a growing but unconfirmed chance of wintry weather around the New Year.