Thursday
Another cold start to the morning over southern and central parts of England and Wales. Fog may be dense too although this will slowly lift. Bright spells coming through with decent periods of sunshine, although fog may again linger all day in parts of the eastern and southern Midlands as well as southern England. The stiffer southwest wind brings drier, brighter weather in much of Scotland and Ireland, although drizzle affects the far northwest. Highs at 1C where fog lingers, 4 to 6C in much of England and eastern Wales, 7 to 8C in Scotland, western England, Scotland and Ireland.

Thursday night
Breezy in Scotland and the far north of England and Northern Ireland tonight. Rain, most of it light and patchy across northern and western Scotland. Further outbreaks of drizzle in western and northern coasts of Ireland too. Mostly dry elsewhere with cloud being broken. The risk of fog again in the far south where there will be another frost. Lows at -3C in the south, 6C in Scotland.

Friday
High pressure remains over southern England on Friday with low pressure to the north. The southwest wind will be bringing cloud and outbreaks of rain to northern and western parts of Scotland. Drier for England and Wales as well as eastern Ireland, although there is the threat of some drizzle affecting western coasts and hills. The best of any brightness and sunshine across eastern, central and southern England once any morning fog has cleared. Highs at 6C in East Anglia, 11C in western Scotland and western Ireland.

New Years Eve
The year ends with high pressure to the south and low pressure to the north. A mostly fair day to come across England and Wales with sunny spells, the best in the east and south. Mostly dry in Scotland and Ireland too, although some drizzle again affecting western coasts and hills. A front brings heavier bursts of rain through Shetland, Orkney and into northern Scotland during the day, this spreading south through the evening. Much of Englad, Wales and southern Ireland should stay dry for the evenings celebrations. Highs at 6 to 10C.