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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Miriam Burrell

Christmas Day to be 'warmest in years' with 13C high set for London

Christmas Day could be the warmest in years across the UK with London expected to reach a high of 13C for the annual festivities.

Warmer-than-average temperatures on December 25 mean a White Christmas has been ruled out for most of the country, apart from the mountains of northern Scotland.

Balmy temperatures forecast for Monday follow a high of 15.3C recorded in Heathrow, southwest London, on Christmas Eve, well above average for the time of year.

It became the warmest December 24 since 1997.

Met Office forecaster Liam Eslick said on Sunday: "It’s been an exceptionally mild couple of days across all of the UK, temperatures have been well above average for the time of year, the maximum for December being 7C.

"Temperatures today have reached 15C in quite a few locations across the UK, the highest being 15.3C in two locations – one in Heathrow and one in Cippenham, Berkshire."

Light rain is expected in the capital for Christmas morning before becoming overcast in the afternoon. Temperatures will plummet to a high of 9C on Boxing Day.

Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud said temperatures are likely to remain comfortably above average for most of the UK on Christmas Day.

"We’re looking at 13 and 14C, we’re probably looking the warmest Christmas Day since 2016, when we actually hit 15.1C," he said.

The warmest December 25 on record was 15.6C in 1920, while the highest Christmas Eve temperatures of 15.5C were set in Aberdeen and Banff in Scotland in 1931.

Runners take part in the Christmas Eve park run at Whitley Bay (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Mr Stroud said the UK is drawing in southern, warmer air.

Monday is set to be damp for much of the country, with heavy rain possible in Wales. The day will brighten up for many post-lunchtime.

Some snow is predicted on Christmas Day for the mountains in Scotland.

It comes after gusts as high as 70mph hit much of Scotland and northern and central areas of England on Christmas Eve.

Two separate yellow wind warnings have been issued by the Met Office, saying people should expect travel disruption, damage to buildings and power cuts, while the rest of the country may see showers.

Forecasters say gusts of up to 56mph hit parts of the Isle of Wight and Northern Ireland on Sunday morning.

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