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Last updated at 09:39 on Sun 27th December

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Published at 09:00 on 21st December

All times are GMT (Europe/London, GMT+0000)

(Next update at 09:00 on 28th December)

Written by Jay Wynne

Summary

Cold and snowy turns cold and wet

Cold air from Siberia brought a noticeable drop in temperatures during the latter part of the past week. It also brought some significant snowfall to much of Eastern England. Many schools were shut and transport problems were widespread, most modes afffected in some way. As the winds switched around to the northwest during the weekend the focus of the snow shifted to the northwest of the UK. Heavy snowfall warnings have been in place in here.

Monday 21 December 2009 to Sunday 27 December 2009

Staying cold but snow risk easing

Christmas week is expected to be appropriately cold with widespread frosts at night. We will also experience some very low daytime temperaures during the early and middle part of the week, becoming a little less cold by the big day itself. The risk of snow eases off by the middle of the week, but by that stage we could see some dense fog which may be difficult to shift. Consequently some places could be very cold. Whether or not fog becomes a problem, with parts of the Midlands, northern England and southern Scotland struggling to get much above freezing. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day look to be days of sunny spells and showers. The showers mostly of rain around the coasts, but a little sleet and snow is likely in inland areas, so a white Christmas for some. It looks as if a deep Atlantic low will move in from the west on Boxing Day, wind, rain and less cold weather setting in during the weekend.

Monday 28 December 2009 to Sunday 3 January 2010

Unsettled

Low pressure to the northwest of Ireland will keep things unsettled across our shores. We can all expect some rain some of which will be heavy, in fact many areas can expect more than their fair share of rain. Temperatures will be a bit below average but not as cold as recently. Northeast England will probably see the best of the sunshine.

Monday 4 January 2010 to Sunday 17 January 2010

Still unsettled, still cold

Low pressure remains centered to the northwest of the UK, generating a west or soutwesterly airflow. That will keep a succession of various bands of rain moving through with brighter, showery spells in between. Rainfall amounts generally above average. Sunshine amounts should be close to average while temperatures will still be a bit below normal for most parts.

Next week

More Snow for late January?

Monthly forecasting

The weather beyond about a week ahead stretches even the most experienced weather forecaster. Complex numerical weather forecast models from the Met Office and the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) are run many times for the month (and season) ahead to build up a picture of the likelihood of different weather types affecting the UK.

Summary of weather for the next few days

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