Unsettled in the North, drier with some brightness in the East and South, mild everywhere

The more observant amongst us will have noticed that December weatherwise  so far has been similar to November. The first half was very dull and now December has followed suit, with only around ten hours of sunshine noted in some central and eastern parts during the first thirteen days. So the sunshine for most on Saturday was welcome, but will the second half of December also mirror November by turning much colder? It seems unlikely, with the next few days in particular being very mild.

Pressure is high to the South and low to the North, leaving a broadly moist, very mild West to South Westerly airflow across all parts. 

Apart from a little light rain or drizzle in the West though, the emphasis for the rest of Sunday will be on dry weather. But most parts keep a lot of cloud, with sheltered eastern areas having the best chance of some winter sunshine. The exception will be Highland and the far North of Scotland where a front moving in will bring rain heavy in the North West, where gales are likely.

After dark the North of Scotland sees further rain heavy in the West, where a yellow warning of rain and gales has been issued by the Met Office. Elsewhere it remains much the same, where it continues mainly dry apart from patchy mainly light rain or drizzle this mainly in the West. It'll be a mild night everywhere, with temperatures unlikely to fall below 8 to 11C and 6C across the Northern Isles.

As we enter the final working week in the run to Christmas, Monday sees little overall change, A yellow warning of rain and gales remains in force for the West of Scotland, where some West facing slopes will see copious amounts of orographic rain, as a front meanders across northern Scotland.

Forecast rainfall totals over the next 48 hours

Elsewhere any rain or drizzle on Monday will be mostly light, patchy and mainly in the West. While most parts continue to see a lot of cloud, skies will break in places to give some winter sunshine. Favoured spots would be to the East of the Pennines.to the lee of the Welsh mountains and across parts of East Anglia and the South East.

On an ideal day for Christmas shopping, where the sun comes through it'll feel particularly pleasant. This despite a fresh South Westerly wind that be on the blustery side especially the further West and North you are. In a particularly mild day temperatures will reach between 9 and 13C, but could get as high as 14 or even 15C locally in a few sheltered eastern areas.

It remains much the same overnight, with the North West and North of Scotland seeing further strong winds and rain heavy at times across Highland and the Western Isles. Elsewhere the emphasis remains on dry weather, with the best of cloud breaks in sheltered eastern areas. On another very mild night, temperatures again shouldn't generally fall below 8 to 11C.

After another very mild day on Tuesday, it turns more generally windy and wet by mid-week. Colder weather will follow, but it won't be unduly so.