BRITS have been warned to prepare for a gusty Christmas day – as forecasters issue a yellow weather warning.
A cold alert has also been put in place for tomorrow, as forecasters admit the prospect of a white is “highly unlikely”.
The Met Office warned there could be disruption to transport and power suppliesCredit: Getty
Low temperatures are likely to impact health and social care servicesCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a yellow cold health alert from 6pm on Christmas Day to 12pm on December 27.
According to the agency, low temperatures are likely to impact health and social care services, particularly for south-west .
Effects include an “increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people” and a “greater risk to life of vulnerable people”.
Issuing a yellow warning for wind, the said gusts would peak at 65mph in some parts of the country.
The forecaster also warned there could be disruption to and supplies.
The warning is in place for the western coast of the UK, with the south-west of and the majority of affected.
But Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said Christmas Day would see “pretty decent” conditions for most with mainly dry .
He said: “On Christmas Day there will be a bright start in the south of England and then into as well as the cloud clears.
“It will be cloudier further north, but there will be some cloud breaks starting to break through by lunchtime…
“…and some good sunny spells establishing further north as well.
“The other notable factor will be the wind, so with the positioning of the high pressure there is a quite strong easterly wind, particularly across the south coast of England, so it could be quite gusty there.
“High pressure is now firmly in control of the weather across the UK, bringing a much more settled spell, and also cooler temperatures than we’ve had of late.”
Mr Claydon said it was “highly unlikely” that the UK would see a white Christmas this year.
He added: “We’ve got a very dry picture across the UK over the next few days.
“The only vague possibility is there’s a little band of rain that’s skirting westwards across the Channel through tomorrow and there’s an outside chance it could clip the south-west of England.
“The chances of any falling out of that are very low.”
Mr Claydon said the highest temperatures on Christmas Day were forecast to be around 7C in north-east England and 6C in the south or south-east.
He added that frost and freezing temperatures are likely in western rural areas overnight on Christmas Day into Boxing Day.
What is a cold health alert?
The Cold-Health Alerts focus on the season between 1st November to 31st March every year.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Weather-Health Alert system is aimed at health and social care professionals and anyone with a role in reducing health impacts caused by extended periods of hot or cold weather.
The Cold-Health Alert Service will consider two aspects; adverse cold weather and health-sector resilience.
The Met Office starts by assessing the risk of persistent low average temperatures and any significant snow/ice in the forecast before deciding to invoke a full further assessment with the UKHSA on the decision and colour of alert to send, where the UKHSA will also factor in various data from the health sector.
A yellow alerts cover a range of situations. They may be issued during periods of cold which would be unlikely to impact most people, but those you are particularly vulnerable (E.g. the elderly with multiple health conditions and on multiple medications) and are likely to struggle to cope and where action is required within the health and social care sector specifically.
Temperatures of minus 6C are also possible in rural parts of and minus 4C in rural Wales.
The said it was expecting festive getaway trips by car to peak on Christmas Eve at 4.2 million.
A spokesperson for the RAC said: “Traffic is expected to be heaviest on major roads between 1pm and 7pm.
“So our advice to drivers – especially those travelling longer distances – is to set out before this time if possible.
“Main roads to watch for jams are the clockwise northern and western sections of the M25 from mid-morning…
“And the M5 north from Gloucestershire towards the later in the afternoon.”
The Met Office said gusts would peak at 65mph in some parts of the countryCredit: Getty 
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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