Met Office Christmas forecast for Flintshire

Following last week’s freezing cold weather, which saw temperatures plunge locally to as low as -9C, this week has started relatively mild.

A very mild, more unsettled pattern is now dominating the UK weather, but what will that mean for the festive season?

“There are, however, large uncertainties concerning where the boundary between these two air masses will eventually end up, especially as we head into the Christmas weekend.”

“Uncertainty in the weather forecast details is not unusual at 6-7 days out, and the current weather patterns are heightening those uncertainties.”

“Confidence in the forecast is unlikely to increase until mid-week at the earliest and a range of outcomes are still possible.”

“However, what we can say is that Christmas Day will most likely be mild with a risk of rain or showers in places for the south, especially the far south, while any cold air and wintry conditions will most likely be confined to the north of the UK.”

Towards New Year, there is potential for a more settled spell to bring overnight frosts and morning fog, before a probable trend towards more changeable and milder conditions.

Flintshire forecast

Today:

Some bright spells are possible on Monday morning, but for most it looks cloudy, albeit very mild with patchy rain. Rain could turn heavy, especially on hills exposed to the strong to gale force southerly wind, heading into the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.

Tonight:

North Wales should see clearer intervals this evening. However, patchy rain will continue in the south, and heavier rain could develop more widely briefly overnight. Remaining mild, with winds easing. Minimum temperature 6 °C.

Tuesday:

Tuesday promises to be a drier and brighter day on the whole with sunny spells. A few showers are still likely though, and the wind will strengthen again. Maximum temperature 11 °C.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:

Wednesday will be windier, with bright spells and some blustery showers. Thursday and Friday look unsettled with rain at times often with breezy conditions, although temperatures should stay fairly mild.

Saturday 24 Dec – Monday 2 Jan

Confidence is unusually low for the Christmas weekend; a north/south divide with cold air, wintry showers and increased risk of more significant snow in the north, and milder conditions with rain and showers in the south, is likely, but where the boundary will be is very uncertain. Eventually, as we head towards the New Year, the colder conditions are more likely to come to dominate, with wintry showers in the north and potential for a more settled spell to develop.

This would bring below average temperatures, potential for areas of freezing fog with widespread overnight frosts, and very low temperatures given any snow cover. Towards the end of the period, there are signs of a trend towards more changeable weather, with an upturn in temperatures.