Christmas weather 2015: Storm Eva could bring more flooding to northern parts of UK, while Met Office predicts “green” rather than white Christmas
Christmas 2015 could be one of the warmest on record – but Storm Eva is expected to hit the British Isles today and tomorrow, meaning last minute shoppers (and Father Christmas) could be grappling with heavy winds.
The Met Office has issued weather warnings for the north west, Wales and north east because of Storm Eva, and there are concerns that there could be more flooding.
People in Cumbria could be facing a miserable Christmas if rain is as heavy as expected, and are still battling against ongoing storms currently: yesterday, firefighters were called out to eight separate flooding incidents.
An orange alert has also been issued for parts of Ireland including Galway, Sligo, Clare, Mayo and Donegal.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: "There is currently the possibility for further unsettled weather during the festive period which could lead to some disruption in the North of England.
"We are monitoring the situation closely and will issue further flood alerts and warnings if required."
Further south, things are expected to be more settled. Temperatures are expected to remain well above average heading into Christmas Day, although there will be cooler days and nights with wintry showers, the Met Office has said.
On Christmas Day itself, northern and eastern parts of the UK are expected to be brightest, with a chilly, frosty start to the day. In the south it is expected to be cloudy with some rain.
"We're expecting a green Christmas, rather than a white one for the majority of the UK," the Met Office said.
The forecast for Boxing Day is less certain, but rain is expected in northern and western parts of the UK, with milder conditions in the south.