0:00:02 > 0:00:04Hello. The first part of the new year looks set
0:00:04 > 0:00:06to bring something a little bit milder.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09But, before the old year is done there's still the potential
0:00:09 > 0:00:12that wintry weather will cause some issues.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15The Met Office Amber "Be Prepared" warning for snow through the
0:00:15 > 0:00:18first part of Friday, particularly across northern England, but
0:00:18 > 0:00:19not exclusively.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21That's where we're expecting the most significant snowfall
0:00:21 > 0:00:23across the south of the Pennines.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25But right up through northern England into
0:00:25 > 0:00:27southern Scotland some snow, even to fairly low levels.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Northern Ireland, a mixture of rain, sleet and snow.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33A similar story for parts of Wales and the Midlands.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36And then as this rain towards the south-east falls on very cold
0:00:36 > 0:00:39surfaces, well, there could be some icy conditions through the
0:00:39 > 0:00:40first part of the day.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42So, whichever way you slice it
0:00:42 > 0:00:44some destruction is possible
0:00:44 > 0:00:45through the first part of Friday.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48As we go on through the day, the rain, sleet and snow will
0:00:48 > 0:00:50drift northwards across Northern England into Scotland,
0:00:50 > 0:00:51tending to fizzle away.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54To the south, something brighter developing, spells of
0:00:54 > 0:00:56sunshine, a scattering of showers, as well.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Generally quite a windy day and a real range of temperatures,
0:00:59 > 0:01:01just two there in Glasgow.
0:01:01 > 0:01:02But some of that mild air starting
0:01:02 > 0:01:05to show its hand towards the south-west.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Now one frontal system clears away as we move through Friday night,
0:01:08 > 0:01:10but another slides into the picture on Saturday.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Again, that will bring some rain northwards.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16And again that could turn to snow, particularly over high ground
0:01:16 > 0:01:18in Scotland.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20But even to fairly low levels, we could see some snowfall
0:01:20 > 0:01:21during Saturday.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25Further south a slice of sunshine, but some rain flirting with
0:01:25 > 0:01:26the far south of England.
0:01:26 > 0:01:3013 degrees there in Plymouth, much milder than it has been but
0:01:30 > 0:01:33still that cold air holding on further north.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36As we move out of Saturday into New Year's Eve, it's all about these
0:01:36 > 0:01:40south-westerly winds bringing mild weather, particularly in the south.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44The winds are quite strong at times, could be gales in exposed spots.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Outbreaks of rain moving from the south-west towards the north-east.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Maybe still cold enough for some snow in the north and those
0:01:50 > 0:01:53temperatures around 5 to 13 degrees.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56And if you're out celebrating at midnight on New Years Eve,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59well, expect some clear spells overhead.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01The chance for one or two showers blowing in on that
0:02:01 > 0:02:04south-westerly wind and although temperatures on the face of
0:02:04 > 0:02:07it don't look particularly low, add on the strength of that wind,
0:02:07 > 0:02:10it could actually feel on the chilly side.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12So what about the first day of 2018?
0:02:12 > 0:02:14Well, it looks like New Year's Day will start off fine and dry
0:02:14 > 0:02:18and potentially fairly chilly, but then it'll cloud over from
0:02:18 > 0:02:20the west with some outbreaks of rain.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Strong winds, as well, so an unsettled New Year's Day.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27And temperatures around 4 to 10 degrees.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30As we move out of New Year's Day into Tuesday, we've still got
0:02:30 > 0:02:31this speed of south-westerly winds.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Areas of low pressure running just to the north-west of the
0:02:34 > 0:02:39British Isles and actually this one could be quite a deep feature.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41That could bring some very strong winds, indeed.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43Gales, possibly severe gales in places.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47Bands of rain sweeping erratically northwards and eastwards, and
0:02:47 > 0:02:50those temperatures of six to 12 degrees.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52Now, the weather through the early part of the new year will be
0:02:52 > 0:02:56dictated by events on the other side of the Atlantic.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59A cold snap continuing across the north-east USA and
0:02:59 > 0:03:03eastern Canada, and as that cold air tries to dig southwards,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05it strengthens the jet stream.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09Now the jet stream, the high winds way above our heads driving
0:03:09 > 0:03:12the weather systems around the world, and a strong jet means
0:03:12 > 0:03:14we're going to see unsettled weather.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17As the cold air digs into the jet, we will spin up these deep
0:03:17 > 0:03:19areas of low pressure.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22So, through the coming days into early 2018, we'll see spells
0:03:22 > 0:03:27of rain and gales and generally it will be less cold as we go
0:03:27 > 0:03:29into the first part of the new year.