Boxing Day weather bomb to bring wind, rain and snow

While Christmas Day is likely to be fine and dry in most places, weather experts are warning of a 'Boxing Day weather bomb' that will bring winds, rain and even snow by Saturday night.

Leon Brown, meteorologist at The Weather Channel, told Aol Travel: "Be prepared for a spell of much more unsettled weather from Boxing Day to 28 December. We will see some explosive cyclogenesis in the North Atlantic and a rapidly deepening area of low pressure approaching North Scotland.

"Pressure will actually fall by nearly 50mb from 00:00 Friday to 00:00 Saturday so we can call the system the Boxing Day Bomb!

"So, after a cold and frosty start on Boxing Day strengthening winds and rain, preceded by a spell of sleet and snow, will quickly spread across Scotland.

"We could see some heavy snow over the Highlands, which may cause some travel problems for higher routes.

"There will be some snow over the Pennines, too, in the afternoon with lighter rain spreading across central and southern areas in the afternoon followed by a very wet and windy evening and night for much of the UK. Many areas can expect 10mm to 15mm of rainfall and 30 to 40mm over some western areas. Winds also strong to gale-force in exposed areas, so not a good night to travel.

"The weekend looks colder and wintry. There's a risk of rain, sleet and snow moving southwards over England and Wales during Saturday and snow showers for northern Scotland. There's a good probability of snow settling to lower levels in central Britain on Saturday night.

"Sunday will still be cold with scattered wintry showers in the east and then a frosty and icy night Sunday to Monday.

"At the moment next week to New Year looks cold and frosty over England and Wales, while the north becomes less cold by New Year's Eve with freshening south south west winds."