Met Office forecasts ‘exceptionally mild conditions’ for UK on Christmas day

The Met Office, on Friday, has forecast that Christmas Day and Boxing Day in the UK will experience exceptionally mild weather conditions.

According to the report, temperatures could soar to levels 10 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average in certain regions.

The forecast, as reported, came as the country prepares for a transition to milder conditions, starting on Christmas Eve after a weekend marked by strong winds and heavy rain.

The Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), gathered that over the weekend, northern England and Scotland faced challenging weather, with gusts reaching 85 mph.

As the weather system shifts, Christmas Day is expected to be predominantly cloudy.

However, some eastern areas, particularly in eastern Scotland, might enjoy brief moments of sunshine or clearer skies.

According to the chief meteorologist at the Met Office, Rebekah Hicks, December 25 and 26 will see remarkably mild weather, particularly in northern regions.

She noted that eastern and north-eastern Scotland could register overnight temperatures significantly above average by 10 degrees Celsius on Christmas morning.

The Met Office’s temperature forecasts indicated that highs will range between 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) and 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit) across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland by 3 PM on Christmas Day.

In London, the expected temperature of 11 degrees Celsius exceeds the December average by 2.2 degrees.

Birmingham will also see a high of 11 degrees, which is 3.7 degrees above normal. Edinburgh’s forecasted high of 12 degrees Celsius is 4.7 degrees above the average for this time of the year.

Met Office

The Meteorological Office, commonly known as the Met Office, serves as the national weather and climate service for the United Kingdom.

It operates as an executive agency and trading fund under the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

The Met Office has been led by CEO Penelope Endersby since December 2018, making her the first woman to hold this position.

The organization provides meteorological predictions, ranging from daily weather forecasts to long-term climate change assessments.

History of Met Office

The Met Office was founded on August 1, 1854, as a small department within the Board of Trade.

Vice Admiral Robert FitzRoy established it primarily to serve mariners.

According to account, the tragic sinking of the passenger ship Royal Charter in 1859, which resulted in 459 fatalities, prompted the creation of the first gale warning service.

FitzRoy set up a network of 15 coastal stations to provide visual warnings for ships at sea.

The advent of the electric telegraph revolutionized communication, enabling rapid dissemination of weather warnings.

This technology also facilitated the development of an observational network for synoptic analysis.

In 1861, the Met Office began issuing weather forecasts to newspapers.

FitzRoy used data from the photo-barograph at Kew Observatory, which Francis Ronalds invented, to enhance these forecasts.

Instruments for continuous meteorological recording were distributed across the observation network.

However, after FitzRoy’s death in 1865, the publication of forecasts ceased until it resumed in April 1879.

Connection with the Ministry of Defence

After World War I, the Met Office became part of the Air Ministry in 1919.

Observations taken from the top of Adastral House, the Air Ministry’s headquarters, led to the phrase, “The weather on the Air Ministry roof.”

Due to the growing demand for weather information in aviation, the Met Office established many observation points at RAF airfields.

In 1936, the Met Office separated its services to the Royal Navy, creating distinct forecasting services for naval operations.

In April 1990, the Met Office became an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence, which required it to operate commercially.

Change of Ministry

In 2011, the Met Office transitioned to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills following a government reorganization.

Then, on July 14, 2016, it became part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy after a merger with the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Despite no longer being part of the Ministry of Defence, the Met Office continues to maintain strong ties with the military.

It operates front-line offices at both RAF and Army bases within the UK and abroad.

The Met Office collaborates with the Joint Operations Meteorology and Oceanography Centre (JOMOC) alongside the Royal Navy.

The Mobile Met Unit (MMU), consisting of Met Office staff who are also RAF reservists, supports forward military units during conflicts.

They provide crucial weather information to help the armed forces make informed decisions in battle.

Location

In September 2003, the Met Office relocated its headquarters from Bracknell, Berkshire, to a new, purpose-built facility at Exeter Business Park.

This £80 million structure officially opened on June 21, 2004, just before the Met Office’s 150th anniversary.

Global presence

The office boasts a global presence, with a forecasting center in Aberdeen and offices in Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.

Additional locations include the MetOffice@Reading at the University of Reading and the Joint Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Research in Wallingford, Oxfordshire.

The agency also maintains a presence at various Army and Air Force bases, both in the UK and overseas, including frontline units in conflict zones.

Notably, Royal Navy weather forecasts are typically provided by naval officers rather than Met Office personnel.

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