New Year’s Eve is due to be the warmest on record, forecasters say – after parts of Britain saw snow across the Christmas weekend.
Today will see ‘plenty of dry weather’ in northern parts of Britain, but the midlands and south are facing ‘very wet’ conditions after a ‘rather cloudy start’, the Met Office said.
They warned of a ‘murky and foggy’ start to the day in England, advising motorists to use their fog lights, not their full beam lights, and to de-mist their windscreens as drivers make long journeys across the country after visiting their families for the holidays.
After a cool start to the week today, temperatures will stay ‘exceptionally mild’ this week but are set to reach a comfortable 59F (15C) on Friday in parts of England – meaning the country will enjoy similar conditions to those in southern European hotspots like Madrid and Athens.
It would also mean the 2011 record of 58F (14.8C) in Colwyn Bay, north Wales would be smashed, making this New Year’s Eve the hottest on record.
A Met Office graphic displayed predictions of 15C in the south, falling to around 13C in the midlands and 10C in the north of Scotland for the last day of 2021. Forecasters said: ‘New Year’s Eve should be drier and a little brighter [than the rest of the week]. Still very mild for many.’
It comes after a chilly Boxing Day which saw up to four inches of snow falling on high ground in the early hours with heavy flurries across southern Scotland, Durham, Northumberland, Yorkshire and the Peak District.
The Met Office had declared an official White Christmas after two measuring stations in Scotland recorded snowfall on Christmas Day.
A snow-covered field in Guiseley, West Yorkshire on Boxing Day. The Met Office had declared an official White Christmas after two measuring stations in Scotland recorded snowfall on Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve could see temperatures reach 15C in southern England, with cooler weather across the north
There will be further heavy rain for southern and central areas of Britain today, while further north it will be much drier than Boxing Day with chance of some sunshine
COUNTY DURHAM: A woman rides a horse near Castleside in County Durham yesterday, in picture-perfect snow-coated scenery
COUNTY DURHAM: Eva Simpson, 6, has fun sledging on a snow covered pathway in Dipton as parts of the country woke up to snow coating the ground
Sheep roaming around in a snow covered field in Guiseley, West Yorkshire. Parts of the country were transformed in a blanket of white overnight
Icy dip: Women in Santa hats in Ayr, south-west Scotland where swimmers take part in a charity Boxing Day swim in the frosty waters
Tomorrow will be breezy, with gusts of up to 40mph blowing rain showers away, and parts of the South will enjoy temperatures of 13C (55F). It will continue to get warmer towards the end of the week
One woman was spotted riding a horse in snow-blanketed woods in County Durham.
But the blizzards disrupted major roads in the North, including the M62 and A66, which had to be temporarily closed in the morning due to icy conditions.
Some drivers struggled to get going at all after their cars were left covered in thick snow.
However, the nippy weather was no match for daring swimmers at Perranporth Beach in Cornwall, and at Ayr, south-west Scotland.
Some wore jolly Santa hats and tinsel as they braved the icy sea.
By yesterday afternoon, much of the snow was thawing, the Met Office said, and milder air from the Atlantic ensured better temperatures than average for this time of year.
The front also brought rain, and heavy downpours in London caused some localised flooding to roads, including the A3 in New Malden.
Swimmers, some dressed up in Christmas gear, walk in the frosty waters as they take part in a charity Boxing Day swim at Ayr beach in Scotland
Two swimmers dressed up as a panda and a lobster splash in the cold waters of the North Sea as they take part in the annual Boxing Day dip at Redcar Beach
Two swimmers pose and wave as they brave the chilly North Sea at Seaburn, in South Tyneside as they go for a traditional Boxing Day dip
Early risers enjoy a traditional Boxing Day dip as they wade around in the freezing North Sea waters at Seaburn, South Tyneside
A group of excited swimmers dip into the North Sea at Seaburn, South Tyneside as they kick off Boxing Day with a splash
Friends in colourful swim suits, some wearing hats, pose as they brave the frosty waters and go for a Boxing Day dip in Perranporth, Cornwall
COUNTY DURHAM: A woman in a blue coated walks her dog in Castleside, coated in white, as parts of the UK woke up to fresh snow
COUNTY DURHAM: A woman rides a horse through the snowy path near Castleside. Up to four inches of snow fell on high ground in the early hours as parts of the country were transformed into a frosty wonderland
COUNTY DURHAM: A young rider makes their way through the snowy scenery near Castleside. Heavy flurries visited southern Scotland, Durham, Northumberland, Yorkshire and the Peak District, allowing families to enjoy a spot of sledging
COUNTY DURHAM: A man clearing the snow off his car near Castleside. Scotland will see the best of the weather today, with the rest of England and Wales staying wet as more rain heads north-east from Devon and Cornwall
COUNTY DURHAM: A man clears snow from the drive of his home in Tow Law. By yesterday afternoon, much of the snow was thawing, the Met Office said, and milder air from the Atlantic ensured better temperatures than average for this time of year
Scotland will see the best of the weather today, with the rest of England and Wales staying wet as more rain heads north-east from Devon and Cornwall.
Temperatures, however, are set to remain several degrees above the 8C (46F) average for the end of December.
Tomorrow will be breezy, with gusts of up to 40mph blowing rain showers away, and parts of the South will enjoy temperatures of 13C (55F). It will continue to get warmer towards the end of the week.
Sarah Kent, a forecaster at the Met Office, said: ‘It will feel quite mild for the time of year, especially in the South and West.’