It is finally Christmas week and while we have been blasted with freezing temperatures and snow over the past week, many are wondering what the weather looks like on the lead up to Christmas day.

The “extreme” cold weather has subsided amid surging temperatures yesterday where we saw highs of 14°C with “outbreaks of rain and drizzle”.

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said cold wind has been coming down from the north in the last week or 10 days, but this week winds are going to start coming in from the west or south west.

He added: “So it’s bringing milder air off the Atlantic, rather than coming down from the Arctic.”

Mr Petagna said it is not unheard of to get temperatures in the low teens at this time of year, but said the contrast of going from very cold to very mild in a day or two is quite unusual.

But what does the weather look like in the run-up to Christmas day? Here is an hour-by-hour breakdown of the forecast in south east London this week:

 

Tuesday December 20:

  • 6am: 12°C – Light rain
  • 9am: 10°C – Overcast
  • 12pm: 10°C – Sunny
  • 3pm: 10°C – Sunny
  • 6pm: 8°C – Partially cloudy
  • 9pm: 7°C – Cloudy

 

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday: “Wednesday bright with showers, some heavy. Thursday and Friday probably unsettled with further rain and showers and windy at times.”

 

Wednesday December 21:

  • 6am: 8°C - Cloudy
  • 9am: 8°C – Heavy rain
  • 12pm:  8°C - Sunny intervals
  • 3pm: 9°C – Sunny
  • 6pm: 7°C - Cloudy
  • 9pn: 8°C – Cloudy

 

Thursday December 22:

  • 6am: 9°C – Light shower
  • 9am: 10°C – Overcast
  • 12pm: 11°C – Cloudy
  • 3pm: 11°C – Light shower
  • 6pm: 10°C – Light rain
  • 9pm: 9°C – Light rain

 

Friday December 23:

  • 6am: 9°C – Overcast
  • 9am: 9°C – Light rain
  • 12pm: 10°C – Heavy shower
  • 6pm: 10°C – Cloudy
  • 9pm: 9°C – Cloudy

 

Christmas Eve - Saturday December 24:

  • 6am: 8°C – Clear night
  • 9am: 8°C – Sunny intervals
  • 12pm: 9°C – Cloudy
  • 3pm: 9°C – Cloudy
  • 6pm: 8°C – Cloudy
  • 9pm: 8°C – Partially cloudy

 

Christmas Day – Sunday December 25:

  • 6am: 7°C – Cloudy
  • 9am: 7°C – Cloudy
  • 12pm: 8°C – Cloudy
  • 3pm: 8°C – Cloudy
  • 6pm: 7°C – Cloudy
  • 9pm: 7°C – Cloudy

 

Speaking about Friday onwards, The Met Office said: “Early in the period and towards Christmas conditions are likely to be less cold than of late although a north south divide is expected to develop.

“Towards the south it will remain milder with temperatures close to, or rather above average.

“Spells of rain and stronger winds are likely at times, particularly in central and southern areas.

“Towards New Year, there is potential for a more settled spell to bring overnight frosts and morning fog, before a trend towards changeable but probably more milder conditions.”

So, with the current predictions, you should be able to get away with a dry Christmas Day walk – if you are one of the families who enjoys that tradition.

No matter the weather or how you spend this Christmas week – have a wonderful time out there.