Christmas Day is set to be the warmest in almost a decade, with forecasters predicting highs of 14C.

Dreams of a White Christmas have been shattered for most of the UK, with “very mild” temperatures continuing after the country saw its warmest December 24 for more than 20 years.

However, some areas in northern Scotland are likely to see some snow, technically making it a White Christmas, which is defined by the Met Office as a single snowflake falling on December 25.

Ted Hennessey reports:

The Met Office has said it is set to be an official white Christmas in the UK, with snow forecast over the Scottish high ground.

Although the forecaster predicted most should expect a wet Christmas. It added the weather will generally become cloudier, with rain pushing north and east.

The UK has seen its warmest Christmas Eve in over 20 years.

Temperatures in Heathrow, south-west London, hit 15.3C on Sunday, well above average for the time of year, making it the warmest December 24 since 1997.

Met Office forecaster Liam Eslick told the PA news agency: “It’s been an exceptionally mild couple of days across all of the UK, temperatures have been well above average for the time of year, the maximum for December being 7C.

“Temperatures today have reached 15C in quite a few locations across the UK, the highest being 15.3C in two locations - one in Heathrow and one in Cippenham, Berkshire.”

Christmas Day is also set to be the hottest in years with parts of the UK expected to hit 14C.

Millions of travellers are on the roads, railways and planes on Christmas Eve in the final travel surge before 25 December, Simon Calder reports:

Rail passengers in particular have faced a litany of problems in the build-up to Christmas, with Storm Pia combining with staff shortage to disrupt trains within Britain.

Eurostar made 30 cancellations to and from Continental Europe on Thursday, when the Channel Tunnel closed because of a strike – wrecking the plans of 25,000 passengers.

No trains will run in the UK on 25 December 2023. But many of the 20 million Brits without a car can enjoy better public transport on Christmas Day than ever – from Aberdeen to the Isle of Wight and South Wales to East Anglia.

The best service of all is on the Isle of Wight, with regular buses from 8am to midnight.

Our travel correspondent, Simon Calder, has rounded up the options:

Very few domestic flights will operate on Christmas Day. Those that do are mainly to connect with international services at London Heathrow.

British Airways is operating three flights each way between Edinburgh and Heathrow, and four each way linking Glasgow and Manchester with Heathrow.

Most fares are very high, but the 6.15am from Glasgow to London Heathrow is selling at only £55.

Christmas Day is also set to be the hottest in years with parts of the UK expected to hit 14C.

A White Christmas has been ruled out for most of the country, apart from the mountains of northern Scotland.

Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud said: “The temperatures will peak today, there is a slight downward trend in temperatures for Christmas Day but we’re still expecting them to be comfortably above average.

“We’re looking at 13 and 14C tomorrow, we’re probably looking the warmest Christmas Day since 2016, when we actually hit 15.1C.”

The warmest December 25 on record was 15.6C in 1920, while the highest Christmas Eve temperatures of 15.5C were set in Aberdeen and Banff in Scotland in 1931.

Mr Stroud said the UK is drawing in southern, warmer air.

Monday is set to be damp for much of the country, with heavy rain possible in Wales.

Two separate yellow wind warnings were issued by the Met Office in Scotland and northern and central areas of England for Christmas Eve, saying people should expect travel disruption, damage to buildings and power cuts, while the rest of the country may see showers.

Forecasters say gusts of up to 56mph hit parts of the Isle of Wight and Northern Ireland on Sunday morning.

Wind speeds of up to 70mph were recorded in Scotland later in the day, reaching 60mph in the north-east of England.

Christmas Day could be the warmest on record the Met Office has said, despite the threat of snow in parts of the country.

The forecaster expects unseasonably mild temperatures across much of the UK on Monday, in the early to mid-teens.

The hottest Christmas Day on record was 15.6C in 1920, and there is a chance - albeit a small one - this could be matched or even beaten, the Met Office says.

Meteorologist Liam Eslick said there may be snow on December 25 on mountains in Scotland but it is “not looking likely that there will be a white Christmas in England”.

He added that Christmas Day is expected to be a lot milder than usual, with the average December temperature between 7C and 8C, but the top temperature that could be seen this December 25 is 14C.

The warmest Christmas Day on record was 15.6C in 1920, so there is a “small chance” of it being a record, Mr Eslick added.

Most of the country will be damp on Monday, with heavy rain possible in Wales, though it is expected to brighten up after lunchtime.

As usual, no trains will run in the UK on 25 December.

But from Aberdeen to the Isle of Wight and South Wales to East Anglia, many of the 20 million Britons who have no access to a car will be able to access better public transport on Christmas Day 2023 than ever before.

Thriving competition between coach companies means record long-distance services will run on 25 December.

On the Cardiff-Bristol-Heathrow airport-London route, Megabus passengers can choose from four departures each way.

In Scotland, Glasgow is connected with Edinburgh by a dozen Citylink buses in either direction.

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