UK and Europe weather forecast latest, December 16: Strong wind and a band of squally rain to cover western parts of the UK
	UK and Europe weather forecast latest, December 15: A persistent band of blustery rain to cover the UK
	UK and Europe weather forecast latest, December 14: Fierce winds and heavy downpours to bombard Britain amid icy weather

UK's weather forecast

The Met Office has issued a weather forecast update for Christmas Day as the UK braces for 10 inches of snow later this month.

Bitterly cold air from the north Atlantic is expected to bring wintry conditions over the festive period. Christmas Day could see up to 6cm of snow in Central Scotland by 6pm, according to WXCHARTS' snow depth models. The charts suggest snow could linger until the end of December, with 8 inches forecast for the same region on Thursday, December 31 at midday. Meanwhile, the snow depth models show western Scotland will see just under 10 inches (25cm) on this date.

Temperatures are also expected to plummet to freezing lows of -7C in parts of Scotland on Monday, December 28, WXCHARTS has predicted.

The rest of the country could also see a cold Christmas Day with 0C forecast in northwestern parts of England including Manchester and even further south in London.

UK snow forecast: Britain is bracing for snow on Christmas Day (Image: WXCHARTS)

Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey warned of cold air sweeping across the UK on Christmas Day.

"Looking further ahead to Christmas Day itself, whilst it is still too early to say with certainty what weather we can expect, there are some signs of high pressure developing which could bring a colder, drier and more settled spell around Christmas Day."

The Met Office also warned of powerful winds battering the far south, potentially bringing more cold air between Sunday, December 20 and Tuesday, December 29.

The forecast said: "There is a potential for strong winds in the far south at first; at other times any strong winds are likely to be confined to the north and perhaps the east."

"Prevalence of overnight fog and frost is likely increasing, with fog potentially slow to clear during the daytime. Temperatures either close to or slightly below normal."

The Met Office added new weather systems from the Atlantic could bring more unsettled conditions in the New Year.

UK snow forecast: The UK will be blasted with snow next week (Image: WXCHARTS)

The forecast for Tuesday, December 29 to Tuesday, January 12 added: "High pressure will probably be remaining the dominant pattern for the UK over the last days of December."

"This means a good deal of dry weather for many parts but with overnight frost and fog, with fog potentially slow to clear. Some periods of wetter weather may develop at times, most likely in the east."

"Into January confidence is low, although a change to more unsettled conditions with Atlantic systems moving in from the west is looking likely to occur during the first half of January."

BBC Weather's forecast for the end of December added: "As we head into the Christmas week, there will be little change. While cold polar air may well start to encroach over Scandinavia, our weather will still be coming in from the west, with a seemingly never-ending supply of Atlantic low pressure areas."

Snow depth model on December 31 at midday (Image: wxcharts)

"Some unusually cold air for the time of year is likely over Canada during mid-December and this may linger into the Christmas week. Very cold air here, combined with the residual warmth of the north-west Atlantic ocean, helps to accelerate the jet stream."

"This is a high altitude belt of westerly winds above the north Atlantic. The jet stream will frequently be aimed straight at the UK, so this will help to steer the low pressure areas our way."

On December 17

A ridge of high pressure building through the UK on Thursday. This brings a fair day with sunny spells, the best of this sunshine in eastern areas. Some scattered showers will be affecting western and southern coasts and hills, and it is here that there will be some broken cloud. More persistent rain arriving in western parts of Ireland later in the day. Temperatures at 8 to 10C and so continuing mild for many.

Photo: Weather Online

Europe's weather forecast

According to Weather Online, rain, heavy in places, pushing into Portugal and western parts of Spain. Drier in the east of Spain. With high pressure, albeit weak, across the Mediterranean, expect dry conditions for the Balearics, Italy, although there is the small risk of an isolated shower or two across northern Italy, as well as across Greece. Dry in west Turkey with improving conditions in the east.

Northwest France will see rain push in. Southerly winds strengthening here too. Largely dry elsewhere. Dry across the Low Countries and for much of Germany although some rain is expected through the morning across southeastern areas here. Cloudy with patchy rain across western and central Poland. Drier and brighter further east. Rain clearing Austria in the morning with patchy rain over Switzerland. Dry down the Balkan States.

Photo: Stirimeteo

Photo: Stirimeteo

Morning rain clearing southern areas of Sweden allowing for a dry rest of the day here. Mainly dry across Norway but with some patchy rain or snow affecting more northern areas. Wet with rain across southern Finland with possible snow over higher ground centrally, drier further north. A wet start for the Baltics but weather should improve here. Dry and relatievly mild across Denmark.

On December 17

Fair across Spain and Portugal, plenty of sunshine and dry too. Some showers in the Balearics with Corsica and Sardinia being mostly dry and sunny. Plenty of sunshine and dry weather in Italy as well as across Greece and Turkey.

Fair with plenty of sunshine and dry weather in France. A few showers across northern coasts of the Netherlands. Germany will be mostly dry, but some rain in the far north. Poland will be dry with plenty of sunshine. Hungary and Austria as well as Switzerland wil be dry and sunny too.

Photo: Weather Online

Rain passing through Denmark. Fine for the Baltic States, lots of sunshine and dry here. Finland is likely to be cool with some sunny spells. Rain across Sweden, most in the north. Norway will have rain in the south but dry in the north.

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