The latest ECMWF 46-day outlook has become available, taking us through the Christmas period and well into the New Year.

Here's what it says. Winter retuning? You decide!

15th December to 22nd December
A cool week, varying temperatures with ridge to west and trough to east.
More unsettled than of late.
Wintry showers Friday, mostly coasts.
Chilly weekend, plenty of dry weather but maybe rain Sunday in west.
Becoming milder early in new week, SW flow picking up.
Periods of rain passing north and east.
Becoming windy at times.
Very mild later in week.

23rd December to 29th December
Deep trough passing north of Scotland with ridge over the far south at times.
Jet stream becomes established over the UK.
Windy conditions, possibly stormy.
Near average temperatures for most, although cooler in Scotland.
Risk of snow for Christmas in parts of Scotland.

30th December to 5th January
Perhaps cooler for most as jet slips south through the UK, leaving the UK and Ireland on the cool side of it.
Unsettled, rain heavy at times, flooding risk?
Strong winds, storms possible.
Need to watch for brief periods of sleet and snow.

6th January to 12th January
Signs of ridge starting to build to east, creating Scandinavian high.
Trough to the west may turn flow to milder southwesterly for a time, before southeasterly later.
Changing temperatures, milder for a while, then cooler later.
Most rain through southern UK and Ireland.

13th January to 19th January
Ridge continues to build east with trough to southwest.
Flow increasingly turning southeast then possibly easterly.
Becoming colder with northern areas drier, but rain at times in south, although becoming drier.

20th January to 26th January
Ridge to the north with higher pressure over or near the UK.
Indications are for a cold period of weather under the ridge of high pressure.
This may not last long, although could be accompanied by some wintry weather

**ends**