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Warnings
Thursday 22 December Published at 12:10
UK Warnings
Weather Warning
Issued by the Met Office
YELLOW WARNING of WIND for NORTHERN and WESTERN SCOTLAND
Issued at 14:51 on Mon 19 Dec
Valid from 06:00 on Wed 21 Dec
Valid to 18:00 on Thu 22 Dec
Cold and blustery westerly winds are expected to bring heavy and frequent wintry showers across northern and western Scotland on Wednesday and Thursday. Gales are likely at times along the west coast and the Northern Isles with winds gusting to around 55 mph. The strongest of the winds should ease later on Thursday.
Frequent lightning may be an additional hazard across the Northern and Western Isles and the west coast in particular with the potential for disruption to power supplies.
Upland areas are expected to see some appreciable snowfalls with accumulations of 5 to 10 cm possible on higher routes across the western and central Highlands. Some slushy accumulations are also possible at lower elevations at times. Ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces on Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
YELLOW WARNING of WIND for SCOTLAND, NORTHERN IRELAND, NORTHWEST ENGLAND and NORTHWEST WALES
Issued at 11:17 on Thu 22 Dec
Valid from 07:00 on Fri 23 Dec
Valid to 23:59 on Fri 23 Dec
A spell of very strong south to south-westerly winds is expected to develop on Friday. Gusts of 60 to 70 mph are likely quite widely, with westerly winds gusting to 80 - 90 mph likely across parts of northern Scotland later on Friday.
There is potential for some structural damage - this more likely across the northwest of the warning area - as well as disruption to power supplies and travel, with restrictions on bridges and disruption to ferries.
A spell of heavy rain will accompany the strong winds during Friday morning and afternoon will bring poor driving conditions and some surface water flooding. Additionally large waves will develop offshore, bringing a risk of wave overtopping along north-western and northern coasts.
STORM BARBARA
AMBER WARNING of WIND for the NORTHERN ISLES, the WESTERN ISLES and NORTHWEST SCOTLAND
Issued at 11:27 on Thu 22 Dec
Valid from 12:00 on Fri 23 Dec
Valid to 23:59 on Fri 23 Dec
A spell of very strong westerly winds is expected to develop on Friday. Gusts of 80 to 90 mph are possible in places. Winds will then ease on Saturday morning.
There is potential for some structural damage as well as disruption to power supplies and travel, with restrictions on bridges and disruption to ferries.
This is an update to the warning issued on Tuesday to restrict the most damaging winds to north of the Great Glen. The warning period is now restricted to Friday.
YELLOW WARNING of WIND for NORTHEAST ENGLAND, parts of NORTHWEST ENGLAND, WESTERN ENGLAND, WALES and SOUTHWEST ENGLAND
Issued at 11:44 on Thu 22 Dec
Valid from 12:00 on Fri 23 Dec
Valid to 18:00 on Fri 23 Dec
A short period of strong winds is expected to develop during Friday afternoon. Gusts of around 50-60 mph are likely in places, perhaps up to 70 mph in exposed locations. Some disruption to travel is possible.
YELLOW WARNING of WIND for NORTHERN HIGHLANDS and ISLANDS
Issued at 12:01 on Thu 22 Dec
Valid from 00:00 on Sat 24 Dec
Valid to 12:00 on Sat 24 Dec
The strong westerly winds are expected to continue during Saturday morning across northern Scotland before easing during the afternoon. Gusts of 55-65mph are expected widely, with occasional gusts of 75mph across more exposed parts. Further disruption to travel is possible.
YELLOW WARNING of WIND for NORTHERN IRELAND, SOUTHERN SCOTAND and NORTHERN ENGLAND
Issued at 12:05 on Thu 22 Dec
Valid from 03:00 on Sun 25 Dec
Valid to 18:00 on Sun 25 Dec
A further spell of windy weather is expected on Christmas Day (Sunday). Gusts of around 50-60 mph are likely, particularly over high ground. Some disruption to travel is possible and driving conditions may be difficult for high-sided vehicles.
YELLOW WARNING of WIND for much of SCOTLAND
Issued at 11:50 on Thu 22 Dec
Valid from 03:00 on Sun 25 Dec
Valid to 09:00 on Mon 26 Dec
A further spell of very strong winds is expected on Christmas Day (Sunday). Gusts of 50 to 60 mph are likely to occur quite widely, locally up to 70 mph. There is a lower likelihood of gusts exceeding 80 mph across the far north of the mainland and the Northern Isles.
There is potential for disruption to holiday travel plans (for example restrictions on bridges and delays to ferry services). Other impacts, primarily across northern Scotland, may include disruption to power supplies and large waves affecting coastal areas, while heavy rain in the West Highlands combined with snow melt may lead to rising river levels.
This warning has been updated to extend the validity time into Boxing Day (Monday).
Flood Warning
Issued by the Environment Agency or by SEPA in Scotland and Natural Resources Wales in Wales
Thursday 22 December
There are no flood warnings in force anywhere in the United Kingdom.
About the Met Office Weather Warnings
The Met Office warns the public and emergency responders of severe or hazardous weather which has the potential to cause danger to life or widespread disruption through the National Severe Weather Warning Service.
The Met Office issues warnings for rain, snow, wind, fog and ice. These warnings are given a colour depending on a combination of the likelihood of the event happening and the impact the conditions may have.
For more information, see the Met Office Weather Warnings Guide.
About Flood Warnings
The flood warnings are issued by the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Natural Resources Wales, and sent to the BBC Weather Centre. We then issue a compendium of warnings based on the latest information available. When severe flood warnings are issued they will also be highlighted on TV broadcasts.
Find out more about Flood Warnings
There are a number of ways you find out whether your area is at risk from flooding. The Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Natural Resources Wales update their warnings 24 hours a day via the Floodline number.
Floodline - 0345 988 1188
Monthly Outlook
Monday 19 December Published at 10:00
Monthly Outlook
Summary
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...
It's been a fairly stagnant week across the UK. Sunshine has been in short supply for many and mist and fog have been common, especially across the south. It's also been fairly mild for this time of year with not too much in the way of frost around, and there certainly wasn't any snow.
You could be forgiven for wondering what season we are in, but watch this space, as the weather is going to change.
Monday 19 December—Monday 26 December
Here comes the weather!
Monday starts off on a very similar note to Sunday, with potentially disruptive fog around across England. After a little rain in the north west some cooler, clearer conditions move in here.
On Tuesday we see strong winds, potentially severe gale force, across the exposed north and west of Scotland and Northern Ireland. On Wednesday, this wet and windy weather travels down though northern England and Wales, all the while bringing cooler and clearer conditions behind.
Overnight into Thursday there is likely to be some heavy rain and strong winds across England and Wales before this weather front finally clears away to the south east by Thursday afternoon for a bright, chilly day on both Thursday and Friday. There will also be some heavy, blustery showers in the north and west - these could be wintry over the high ground.
Into Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day we will see a succession of deep Atlantic depressions bringing strong winds, occasionally gales and perhaps even stormy conditions in the north west, and also heavy rain at times. There is the risk of some snow, but mainly across high ground in the north, so many of us won't see a white Christmas.
Tuesday 27 December—Monday 2 January
Hold onto your brollies
This wet and windy weather, typical for the UK in December, looks set to continue through to the end of December. So again, we will see mild interludes interspersed with colder, clearer conditions. When the mild conditions prevail, it's likely that we'll also see strong winds and some rain, perhaps heavy. In the cold interludes, frost and perhaps fog is possible by night.
Tuesday 3 January—Monday 9 January
A battle between pressure systems.
In the start of the new year, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the weather forecast; however it looks most likely for now that high pressure will tend to build in, bringing more settled conditions to what we will see over the festive period. We are most likely then to have longer drier and quieter spells and a greater likelihood of lower temperatures along with frost and fog by night.
Next week
Will we ever see any snow?
Monthly forecasting
The weather beyond about a week ahead stretches even the most experienced weather forecaster. Complex numerical weather forecast models from the Met Office and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) are run many times for the month (and season) ahead to build up a picture of the likelihood of different weather types affecting the UK.Summary
Thursday 22 December Published at 02:35
Summary
Blustery wintry showers in the north. Drier, less windy elsewhere.
Today
Further strong winds and local gales with heavy, blustery, wintry showers in Northern Ireland and Scotland, with a risk of hail and thunder. Elsewhere, will be drier and brighter with lighter winds, and a few showers continuing in the west.
Tonight
Wintry showers easing in the north as gales and rain arrive in the north-west by morning. Elsewhere, largely dry, clear with a widespread frost possible, turning cloudier in the west.
Friday
Very windy with severe gales in the north-west, associated with Storm Barbara. A band of heavy rain moves south-eastwards. Colder, brighter conditions then follow with wintry showers in the north.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday
Staying unsettled with sunny spells and showers, or longer spells of rain. Windy too, especially on Christmas Day with gales in the north. Wind easing slowly on Boxing Day.
UK Forecast Video
Last updated 12:38 GMT, Thursday 22 Dec
