Scotland has recorded its mildest Christmas morning to date, with temperatures reaching double digits in several regions. While this unusually warm weather set records, forecasts suggest a wintry twist is on the horizon for New Year’s celebrations.
Record-Breaking Warmth
The Met Office confirmed that Scotland experienced the highest daily minimum temperatures for Christmas Day since records began. Areas such as Aultbea and Aviemore reached up to 12°C, surpassing the previous record of 10.6°C set in Dounreay, Caithness, in 1971.
Elsewhere, widespread temperatures hovered between 10°C and 11°C, with the northeast expected to peak at 13°C.
Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey described the conditions as “provisionally the mildest start to Christmas on record for Scotland and Northern Ireland.” He noted that temperatures in many places remained consistently above 11°C to 12°C over the past 24 hours, creating an unusually warm festive period.
Despite the warmth, Vautrey added that the day was “certainly coming with a lot of cloud,” contributing to a grey and overcast Christmas morning.
Historical Context
The highest temperature ever recorded on Christmas Day in Scotland remains 15.1°C, observed in Dyce, Aberdeenshire, in both 2011 and 2016, as well as in Urquhart, Ross & Cromarty, during the same year.
Snow on the Horizon
As mild as Christmas has been, weather maps predict a dramatic shift heading into the New Year. The latest WXCharts data indicates significant snowfall on January 1, with areas like Fort William expected to see up to 2cm of snow per hour.
The snow front is anticipated to affect the Western Isles before moving further north by January 2.
Met Office Long-Range Forecast
The Met Office’s extended forecast, spanning December 29 to January 7, predicts increasingly unsettled conditions, including rain, snow, and cooler temperatures.
The forecast suggests:
- Chillier air from the north: Expected to sweep southwards, increasing the likelihood of sleet and snow in northern areas.
- Low-pressure systems: Likely to bring heavy rain and mixed precipitation across the country.
- Temperature trends: Initially average, but likely to dip slightly below average, especially in northern regions.
While milder interludes could persist in the south, forecasters caution that the precise positioning of these weather systems remains uncertain.
A Festive Weather Rollercoaster
This year’s holiday season reflects Scotland’s dynamic weather patterns, transitioning from record-breaking warmth on Christmas to potentially snowy and chillier conditions by New Year.
