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UK weather: Warning over high winds and possible power cuts issued - but will we see a white Christmas?

In Lewis, Orkney, Sutherland and Caithness there is the potential for gusts as high as 60 or 70 mph, and people are being warned to expect travel disruption, damage to buildings and power cuts.

Image: Snowy weather in Gateshead earlier this month
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The Met Office is warning of severe wind and rain for parts of the UK on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

A series of yellow warnings cover large parts of Wales, the Midlands and the North East, including Nottingham, Hull, and Newcastle upon Tyne, and Scotland, north of Perth.

In Lewis, Orkney, Sutherland and Caithness there is the potential for gusts as high as 60 or 70mph, and people are being warned to expect travel disruption, damage to buildings and power cuts.

Pic: Met Office
Image: Pic: Met Office

The yellow warning in Scotland is for wind and runs from midday on Christmas Eve until 3am on Christmas Day.

There is a chance of damage to buildings, injuries from flying debris, and power cuts.

The warning for the Midlands and North East is also for wind and urges people to prepare for "gusty" conditions and possible travel disruption. It finishes at 10pm on Christmas Eve.

Christmas getaway plans have already been hampered by Storm Pia.

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How Storm Pia caused chaos across UK
Workmen remove a fallen tree which has damaged the roof of a house in the village of Stanley in Derbyshire during high winds from Storm Pia, which is expected to cause disruption in parts of Scotland, the north of England and Northern Ireland. Picture date: Thursday December 21, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story WEATHER Wind. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire
Image: A fallen tree is removed in Derbyshire following high winds brought by Storm Pia

In Wales, the warning is for rain, and the flooding of homes and businesses is described as "possible", finishing at 6pm on Sunday.

The unsettled conditions make a white Christmas more likely, the Met Office has said, particularly over high ground in the far north of Scotland.

However, "picture postcard snowy scenes" are not expected on Christmas Day, said Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon.

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A white Christmas is defined as single snowflake falling on Christmas Day.

"In terms of a white Christmas, it looks likely, with wintry showers possible over high ground in the far north of Scotland, but not widespread," said Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon.

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A aircraft taking off from Leeds Bradford Airport during Storm Pia, which is expected to cause disruption in parts of Scotland, the north of England and Northern Ireland. Picture date: Thursday December 21, 2023.
Image: An aircraft taking off from Leeds Bradford Airport during Storm Pia

He added: "There's potentially going to be some travel disruption on Christmas Eve, to the east of the Pennines in particular, because of that wind.

"As we get into Christmas Day, the outlook is looking rather unsettled at first - there are weather fronts draped over the UK and it's looking likely that we'll have rain across much of England and Wales and indeed some showers in parts of western and southern Scotland.

"This will gradually clear up during the day - some people may get a clearer spell in the afternoon, so an unsettled day."