Will the current warmer conditions persist throughout the remainder of the week coming up to Christmas on Sunday?
The United Kingdom has experienced an “extraordinary” temperature increase of about 20 degrees Celsius in just a few days.
Will the recent milder weather persist for the remainder of the week coming up to Christmas on Sunday?
The 25th of December is expected to be moderate with a chance of rain or showers in parts of the south, particularly the extreme south, according to weather forecasters.
They note that any cold air and wintry conditions would likely be confined to the north of the United Kingdom, but that their forecasts are subject to change because Sunday is still five days away.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Harris commented on the north-south divide, stating: “There is significant uncertainty regarding the final location of the boundary between these two air masses, especially as we approach the Christmas holiday.
“Confidence in the forecast is not likely to improve until at least midweek, and a variety of scenarios remain probable.”
Beginning midweek, forecasts anticipate cooler weather in the north, while the south maintains pleasant conditions.
As of today: “Temperatures will vary from the mid-single digits in the north to between 10 and 12 degrees Celsius in the south.
“This evening, cloudiness will increase from the southwest, followed by showers in the early hours. Some of the precipitation will intensify, particularly in Wales and northwest England.”
She said that Wednesday “will be mostly dry except the north-west and central regions of Scotland, where showers will persist.”
“Temperatures will drop another degree or so, with the north experiencing temperatures between 4C and 6C and the south seeing temperatures between 9C and 10C.”
Forecasters predict that there will be nighttime frosts and morning fog after Christmas and before the New Year, followed by more variable and milder conditions.
After days of frigid weather, warmer air from Madeira has swiftly surged into the United Kingdom this week, causing an “extraordinary” temperature spike, according to an expert.
Dr. Stephen Burt, a meteorology expert at the University of Reading, described the temperature increase from -5 degrees Celsius last week to 12 degrees Celsius on Monday as “exceptional.”
He noted that the abrupt surge was due to a shift in airmass produced by the rapid northward movement of warmer air from Madeira.
“Very mild and humid tropical maritime air from the vicinity of Madeira was rapidly moved north and east to our islands as a result of the formation of a significant North Atlantic depression during the past few days,” Dr. Burt explained.
The tropical airmass displaced a cold and dry northerly airflow that remained over the British Isles for the whole of last week, and many nights of clear weather allowed widespread severe frost to develop.
