Weather live: Christmas snow ‘likely’ in UK as Met Office predicts 80mph winds

A deep area of low pressure will expected to move to the north of the UK over the Norwegian Sea through tonight and into tomorrow. This area will bring very strong winds and heavy showers to a large portion of the UK, with a yellow warning covering Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northern England and the north of Wales.

“From late Wednesday into Thursday, strong winds are likely to develop across a large area of the UK,” Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond said.

“We’ve issued a large yellow warning area where there’s a potential for some impacts, but gusts of 50-60mph are possible for large parts of central and northern areas of the UK.”

“Exposed coasts and high ground could see gusts of 70-80mph at times.”

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind on Thursday across large swathes of the UK.

• There is a small chance of longer journey times or cancellations as road, rail, air and ferry services are affected
• There is a slight chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
• There is a small chance that injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties
• There is a small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris
• There is a small chance that some roads and bridges could close

Strong west to northwesterly winds are likely to develop across a large swathe of the country on Thursday, the Met Office said.

Quite widely winds are expected to peak with gusts reaching 50-60 mph, however in some locations, such as exposed coastlines, plus over and to the east of high ground there is a chance that gusts of 70-80 mph may be seen in some populated places.

Here are the regions that will be affected:

The weather is turning increasingly windy for all today, as showers are set to be replaced by longer spells of rain with cloud spilling in from the northwest.

Here’s a forecast from the Met Office:

Social media users share pictures of northern lights seen overnight

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Chris Almond said: “From late Wednesday into Thursday, strong winds are likely to develop across a large area of the UK. We’ve issued a large yellow warning area where there’s a potential for some impacts, but gusts of 50-60mph are possible for large parts of central and northern areas of the UK.

“Exposed coasts and high ground could see gusts of 70-80mph at times. There’s a chance this low pressure will continue to exert its influence into Friday, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest Met Office forecast.”

It’ll remain windy for many on Friday, with further periods of rain likely to sweep in from the west, but any snow will be confined to the hills of Scotland.

With millions planning their Christmas getaway, Britons will be keen to know whether ice and snow will be on the cards when they hit the roads and railways towards the end of the week. The Met Office said it had a “high degree of confidence” there would be snowfall over the festive period.

However, the forecaster stressed this does not necessarily mean the country will be covered in blankets of the white stuff and has urged people not to get their hopes up for a “picture perfect white landscape”.

Through Wednesday, brisk westerlies will bring rain for many, with those in the north and west likely to see the highest rainfall accumulations through the day, though those in the south could also see periods of rain.

A notably deep area of low pressure will track to the north of the UK over the Norwegian Sea through Wednesday night and into Thursday.

This will bring very strong winds and heavy showers to a large portion of the UK, with a Yellow National Severe Weather Warning covering Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northern England and the north of Wales.