New Year's Eve
High pressure centred over southern England maintains a mild, moist pattern across the British Isles. It will be a rather overcast and murky day. Local fog patches. Some sunshine will break through for the northeast of Scotland and southern and eastern parts of England. A fresh southwesterly breeze in the north. Rain or drizzle for western Scotland, becoming heavier in the north-west. Highs 7 to 11C.

New Year's Eve night
England and Wales generally dry, cloudy and mild. A little drizzle possible in the west. Heading toward midnight, temperatures will be around 5 to 7C. Meanwhile, for Scotland and Northern Ireland, a cold front will be drifting southwards, producing rain, which may be rather patchy, but locally persistent western hills, with brisk southwesterlies. Gales for the northern Isles. Local frost forming in the Highlands.

New Year's Day
High pressure is located to the west. Variable cloud, some mist and fog patches. A weakening front slipping south across northern England and Wales, also Northern Ireland, brings a zone of cloud and patchy rain or drizzle. A few showers for the Northern Isles. The best of the sunshine focused across Scotland. A little sun for southern England. Winds light west to northwesterly. Fairly mild at 7 to 11C.

Wednesday
Strong high pressure, exceeding 1040mb, is expected to lie across Britain and Ireland. Broadly dry weather with sunshine, variable cloud, and risk of stubborn low level fog patches. A chance of brief local showers around some south-eastern coasts, where a fresh northerly wind is possible. Light and variable winds. A risk of frost for some. Cooler than previous days, top temperatures 5 to 9C.