Warmest Boxing Day for 28 years! But chill to set in next week

The Tenby Boxing Day Swim. Photo: Rex

Britain just enjoyed its warmest Boxing Day for 28 years, and the third warmest Christmas on record.

People across the country made the most of the balmy weather by heading out for Boxing Day swims.

The record temperature for 26 December is 16C in Haddington, East Lothian, and temperatures were well into the teens across the country this year, with the Met Office saying temps never got below 8C or 9C.

Forecaster George Goodfellow told the Daily Mail: "It has been unseasonably warm both on Christmas Day and Boxing Day."

The coldest place in the UK was Aberdeen, where the temps hit 8.5C. But the warm weather is not set to last, and a north east wind is expected to blow in chilly weather.

Mr Goodfellow said: "We're expecting more unsettled weather to come on New Year's Eve and parts of the country will get some rain."

Swimmers who dared to bare included those taking part in events at Tenby and Pembrey in Wales, and Seaburn Beach near Sunderland.

Meanwhile, Britain enjoyed a Christmas Day with temperatures of almost 15C - hotter than in Turkey.

Temperatures reached 14.8C at Aboyne in Aberdeenshire and 14C at Church Fenton, North Yorks, which was warmer than in Istanbul.

Met Office forecaster Michael Lawrence confirmed it was the third warmest Christmas on record, telling the Mirror: "It has felt exceptionally mild with no snow at all. It's certainly a dramatic contrast to the bitter temperatures of Christmas 2010."

And barmy Brits made the most of the balmy weather with thousands enjoying Christmas Day swims across the country.


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