For the end of 2015, it is looking like New Year's Eve will turn chilly. A real change after such a mild December. So wrap up warm if you are heading out at midnight and have a Happy New Year!
Wednesday 30th
The Christmas weather has been mild, windy and wet. There's been hardly any snow, far too much rain, and currently #StormFrank is blowing a hoolie. There is more wet and windy weather to come this week but it seems the very end of 2015 could see a lull with drier, less windy but colder conditions.
Earlier on Thursday evening, the weather won't look that great. A line of blustery showers will move right across the UK west to east. This will include rain, sleet and snow over the hills and mountains.
It will be breezy through the evening, gusty when the showers blow through. Hopefully the winds shouldn't cause any concerns for firework display organisers, as long as the timing of the shower clearance isn't slower. There will be light to moderate Westerly winds, which will add to the chill in the colder, damp air
It is expected that the main line of showers will have cleared eastern Britain by midnight. This leaves drier, clearer weather for most but it will be nippy. New Year's Eve looks like being the coldest night for a while with frost appearing. this is quite a change from the recent mild spell. On the map below for midnight, the blue areas show air temperatures at or below freezing.
Hogmanay
Edinburgh - Dry, clear and chilly +3C but feeling like -2C in the fresh west wind, especially up Arthur's Seat or Calton Hill (festival forecast)
Glasgow - Cold, still risk of a few showers, even sleet. Brisk wind
Stonehaven - Showers just clearing, 4C feels like -1C, breezy
Northern Ireland
Belfast - clear dry and cold. 0C, colder in breeze
Omagh - +1C, dry and chilly
Wales
Cardiff - +5C but feeling more like +2C in the breeze, dry and clear but nippy
Bangor and Aberystwyth - small risk of a shower. Chilly at +4C feeling like -1C in the wind
England
London - Dry and clear but cool, +6C but feeling colder in the breeze along the River Thames for firework viewing
Bournemouth - Fine with a cool wind +6C
Birmingham - Dry and fine +3C but feels more like 0C in the cool breeze
Norwich - Hopefully the showers will have cleared into the North Sea, so clear and cool at +6C
Manchester - Dry and clear but nippy in the wind. +4C but feeling like 0C
York - The flood risk lessens each day. Just a few showers on Thursday, mild before midnight, cold after but with a cool wind
Check the forecast for your location, any showers at 9 or 10pm should have cleared by midnight . Happy New Year!
