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National
Tim Hanlon & Maria Cassidy

UK weather: Met Office predicts heavy snow over Christmas as temperatures plummet

Brits will need to wrap up this Christmas as heavy snow is expected to hit the UK in the week before New Year's Day.

Temperatures remain mild heading into this weekend with highs of 13C.

But from next week WXCharts' maps turns blue as freezing temperatures sweep in from the Arctic, the Mirror reports.

Go here for the very latest live traffic and travel news and North East updates

It is expected that temperatures could hover around zero before the Christmas weekend in the west and Wales where it could drop to -5C.

Weather maps are showing that there could be up to 15cm of snow falling on December 29 and 30 in central Scotland and several centimetres also in Wales, as well as a layering in the north west of England.

On Friday, a yellow weather warning for fog is in place and the Met Office has urged drivers to take care.

Met Office forecaster Clare Nasir said: “Fog warnings have been issued for eastern counties of England through Thursday night and into Friday.

“Elsewhere we will see some mist and fog form and pockets of frost as well towards the North East where we see the lowest temperatures.

"And across the far west of Scotland, a keen breeze here more in the way of cloud, higher temperatures and one or two showers.

“Elsewhere it will be a dry end to the night, but it will be murky in places with plenty of low cloud, mist and cloud, poor visibility. So a murky start to the day on Friday morning and chilly in places with a touch of frost.

“Through Friday not a lot of change, high pressure in charge, the weather isn’t moving very fast and certainly this fog is expected to linger on in eastern areas into the afternoon.”

Looking at the end of the year she added: “Towards the middle of the period, there is an increasing chance of more unsettled and windier weather affecting the UK, with rain, and perhaps snow, possible for some places.”

Here's the five day weather forecast for the North East

Today

Dry with sunny spells, some patchy cloud likely as well. Morning fog patches, some dense, will be slow to clear in places, and remaining chilly here. Fog patches reforming in evening where clear periods persist. Maximum temperature 7 °C.

Tonight

A misty night with increasing chance of fog forming. This could be dense with light and variable winds. Frost also returning with chance of freezing fog. Remaining clearer over hills. Minimum temperature -3 °C.

Saturday

Cold start with some frost then generally dull and misty with fog slow to thin and break during Saturday. Some sunny spells especially over higher ground. Maximum temperature 8 °C.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday

A cloudier picture is likely for Sunday with fog mostly lifting. Remaining dry. Turning brighter with sunshine likely for Monday and Tuesday and feeling cold. Chance of a coastal shower.

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