Temperatures soar to unseasonable high of 15C on unusually warm Christmas Eve

Well, the weather outside may be frightful, but a fire would be far from delightful, given how unseasonably mild it is.

If you’ve stepped outside today, you’ll know it’s unusually warm. So, if you’re out grabbing last-minute shopping, you might want to leave your coat at home — but don’t forget your brolly.

Temperatures are soaring to unseasonable highs of around 15C this Christmas Eve afternoon in parts of Moray, Aberdeenshire, the north Highlands, Edinburgh, and East Lothian — close to record-breaking values.

The current record for the warmest Christmas Eve stands at 15.6C, set way back in 1931 at Craibstone, Aberdeenshire, and Gordon Castle, Moray.

However, tonight, the record books could be rewritten with overnight lows in some western spots, likely to stay above 11°C, surpassing the previous warmest Christmas Eve night of 10.6C, recorded at Dounreay in 1971.

Looking ahead, Christmas Day will also be very mild, damp, and windy, particularly in the north and west. However, eastern areas may see temperatures of 12 – 13C, with some sunshine making it feel quite “pleasant” in Moray and Aberdeenshire. While this weather is great for travelling, it’s hardly festive—open windows during Christmas dinner seem more likely than roaring fires.

As for a white Christmas? There’s no chance this year — not even on the summit of Ben Nevis, where rain and above-freezing temperatures will dominate.

Boxing Day brings more of the same: damp weather in the west, another mild day, but fresher air creeping into the north with highs closer to seasonal norms of 6 – 8C.

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Christmas Weather Records

Snowiest Christmas Morning: In 1981, Santa must have felt right at home trudging through 47cm of snow at Kindrogran, Perthshire.
Stormiest Christmas Day: Christmas 2011 saw Shetland’s Sella Ness hit by a gust of 101mph, leaving thousands without power.
Wettest Christmas Day: Also in 2011, Achnagart in the Highlands recorded 71mm of rain—a week’s worth in just one day.
Coldest Christmas Afternoon: Resallach in the north Highlands didn’t rise above -4.2C on Christmas Day 2009, while Pollok Country Park only reached -3C in 2010.
Coldest Christmas Morning: Altnaharra, in the north Highlands, holds the record at a bone-chilling -18.2C on Christmas morning 2010.
Warmest Christmas Day: Christmas 2011 broke records again with a balmy 15.6C in Faskally, Perthshire.

It’s fair to say Christmas Day 2011 was one of the most eventful on record, with storms, rain, and warmth all rolled into one. It’s remarkable to think this followed the snowy, freezing Christmases of 2009 and 2010.

So, while it’s a definite “snow-show” this year for Frosty and friends, colder conditions—and perhaps some snow—could make a return as we head toward New Year. Watch this space, and in the meantime, have a lovely Christmas.