A dry & bright Christmas day, although a low-temperature cold health alert issued poses a greater risk to the lives of vulnerable people.
With the prospect of a White Christmas not manifesting, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a yellow cold health alert applicable from 1800 hrs on Christmas Day until noon on 27 December for South West England.
The agency said that low temperatures would have a minor impact on health and social care services. This included increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people, which imposed a greater risk to life.
Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon, speaking to the Press Association, said that conditions were in place for mainly dry weather on Christmas Day.
South England began with a bright start on Christmas Day that spread to Wales as clouds cleared. Further north, it was cloudier, although the clouds dispersed by lunchtime, exposing more sunshine, said Claydon.
The other notable factor was the wind. With the positioning of the high pressure, there is quite a strong easterly wind. This was particularly so across the south coast of England, also offering some gusts of wind there.
Claydon added that high pressure was now firmly in control of the weather across the UK. This high-pressure system was bringing a much more settled weather pattern, along with cooler temperatures than those experienced recently.
Those who were dreaming of a White Christmas were disappointed when the prospect diminished. Claydon was quoted as saying that it remained dry in the days that followed.
There was a vague possibility of a little band of rain that was expected to skirt westward across the Channel on Christmas Day, which eventually didn’t seem to materialise, although it was forecast to clip England’s south-west.
Claydon added that the chances of any snowfall were extremely remote.
Claydon added that the highest temperature on Christmas Day was 7°C in northeast England and 6°C in south and southeast England.
