Friday
Storm Barbara is a deep area of low pressure to the northwest of Scotland on Friday morning This brings severe gales across Ireland and Scotland with the winds increasing quickly during the morning in England and Wales. Heavy rain associated with Barbara will reach western Scotland and most of Ireland, then will track eastwards during the afternoon, reaching southeast England and East Anglia towards evening. By then, much of the rain will be light, although could be accompanied by a short spell of very squally winds as the front passes. Showers follow through Scotland and Ireland, a few heavy and turning wintry on hills. However, the winds will be the main feature of the weather with gusts to 90mph in Scotland and Ireland, 70mph in northern England and Wales, 50 to 60mph across the rest of England. Highs at 7 to 12C.

Friday Night
The area of low pressure stays north of Scotland on Friday night. This brings heavy showers to northern and western Scotland with a few showers in northwest England, the north and west of Ireland too. Remaining windy with severe gales in northern Scotland, still with gusts to 60mph. Showers falling as snow over the Scottish hills and the tops of the Pennines and Lake District. Drier in the east and south as fronts clear with clearer spells developing. Lows at 1 to 6C.

Christmas Eve
A deep area of low pressure remains to the north of Scotland on Christmas Eve. This brings a windy day, especially in northern Scotland with severe gales here. Frequent showers across Scotland , falling as snow on the hills. Further showers in northwest England and western Wales. Drier and brighter in northeast England, much of the Midlands and southern England as well as eastern Wales. Cloud increases across Ireland later with rain arriving in the west and the winds starting to increase too. If you're heading to Church during the evening it will become windy for all with widespread gales across the country and rain in the west. Highs at 4 to 10C.

Christmas Day
A brisk and mild southwest flow through Christmas Day. There could be some drizzle on western costas and hills with more persistent rain in western Scotland. Winds gusts to 70mph in Scotland, 50mph on western coasts of England, Wales and Ireland. Brighter and drier in central and eastern areas and feeling very mild for a time here. However, rain passes through Scotland and the rest of Ireland during the day, reaching northern England and Wales towards evening. Highs at 10 to 14C.