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Winter solstice 2015 may be as warm as this year's summer solstice, Met Office says Winter solstice 2015 may be as warm as this year's summer solstice, Met Office says
(2 days later)
Some parts of Britain could be as warm during the winter solstice this year as they were on the summer solstice in June, forecasters have said.Some parts of Britain could be as warm during the winter solstice this year as they were on the summer solstice in June, forecasters have said.
Falling on 22 December, the shortest day of 2015 looks set to be record-breakingly mild, with temperatures in excess of 16C possible across south-east England.Falling on 22 December, the shortest day of 2015 looks set to be record-breakingly mild, with temperatures in excess of 16C possible across south-east England.
A spokesperson for the Met Office told The Independent that temperatures in some parts of Britain have already beaten the high of 14C recorded in Glasgow on 21 June.A spokesperson for the Met Office told The Independent that temperatures in some parts of Britain have already beaten the high of 14C recorded in Glasgow on 21 June.
And the MeteoGroup forecasting organisation said even before 8am this morning that 15C was recorded at London City Airport and 14.3C at Heathrow.And the MeteoGroup forecasting organisation said even before 8am this morning that 15C was recorded at London City Airport and 14.3C at Heathrow.
The Met Office said temperatures varied across regions, but Carlisle was expected to reach a high of around 14C - similar to the 14.9C recorded there in June.The Met Office said temperatures varied across regions, but Carlisle was expected to reach a high of around 14C - similar to the 14.9C recorded there in June.
Glasgow itself was predicted to fall just a couple of degrees short of the temperature in June, with a similar picture seen in Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham and elsewhere.Glasgow itself was predicted to fall just a couple of degrees short of the temperature in June, with a similar picture seen in Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham and elsewhere.
A spokesperson said it was also “finely balanced” as to whether or not today would be the hottest 22 December since records began.A spokesperson said it was also “finely balanced” as to whether or not today would be the hottest 22 December since records began.
The Greater London area is the most likely to beat the record of 16.1C set at Hoylake, Merseyside, in 1910.The Greater London area is the most likely to beat the record of 16.1C set at Hoylake, Merseyside, in 1910.
Asked about a possible record for the day, a spokeswoman for MeteoGroup told PA: “We've not got a great deal of rising of temperatures to do to match the record and I think we could see that matched today.”Asked about a possible record for the day, a spokeswoman for MeteoGroup told PA: “We've not got a great deal of rising of temperatures to do to match the record and I think we could see that matched today.”
The outlook was less sunny for the north of England, while there were warnings for rain today in south-west Scotland, north-west England and west Wales.The outlook was less sunny for the north of England, while there were warnings for rain today in south-west Scotland, north-west England and west Wales.
And with Storm Eva reportedly on its way, a Met Office forecaster warned of “very unsettled” weather to come in the next few days up to Christmas.And with Storm Eva reportedly on its way, a Met Office forecaster warned of “very unsettled” weather to come in the next few days up to Christmas.
Models painted in camouflage colours to blend in with the background pose for Chinese artist Liu Bolin's artwork "Dongji" for the Winter Solstice
Employees at the Korean Folk Village, hand out bowls of red bean soup to visitors at the village in Yongin, south of Seoul, South Korea, to celebrate the upcoming winter solstice.
People wear costumes as they participate in the ancient Yule Log dragging tradition during winter solstice celebrations in Riga, Latvia,
A performer blows fire from her mouth at the 26th Annual Kensington Market Winter Solstice Parade in Toronto
A cyclist is silhouetted against the sky as he waits for the light to change at Berlin's Potsdamer platz .The winter solstice has seen unusually high temperatures this year.
People gather at Stonehenge in Wiltshire on the Winter Solstice to witness the sunrise on the shortest day of the year.
“It could just be cooling off across the hills of Scotland at times, giving a bit of snow, but it will be the highest ground in Scotland, so if there's a white Christmas anywhere it will just be the mountains of Scotland,” the forecaster said.“It could just be cooling off across the hills of Scotland at times, giving a bit of snow, but it will be the highest ground in Scotland, so if there's a white Christmas anywhere it will just be the mountains of Scotland,” the forecaster said.
“The two main features of the weather are the rain today and then on Wednesday night there's quite a deep area of low pressure passing by to the north-west of Scotland, which could give some very strong winds on Wednesday night coming into Christmas Eve morning.“The two main features of the weather are the rain today and then on Wednesday night there's quite a deep area of low pressure passing by to the north-west of Scotland, which could give some very strong winds on Wednesday night coming into Christmas Eve morning.
The forecaster added that there was “no sign of any significant cold weather for some time yet”.The forecaster added that there was “no sign of any significant cold weather for some time yet”.