The Met Office has issued a chilling forecast for Gloucestershire this Christmas season, with temperatures on Boxing Day expected to plunge below freezing and feel as cold as -7°C in some areas due to strong winds and humidity.
Despite occasional sunny spells on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, residents should brace for a notably wintry atmosphere. Temperatures will reach a daytime high of around 5°C on Christmas Day but will quickly fall to freezing by evening. However, it won’t feel as warm as the thermometer suggests; the Met Office’s “feels like” temperature—a measure that factors in wind speed and humidity—could drop to -4°C for most of the county.
Stow-on-the-Wold is forecasted to be particularly cold, with the “feels like” temperature plunging to -6°C from 6 pm onward on Christmas Day. Boxing Day morning will start off at -1°C, edging up to a maximum of 4°C in the afternoon, though the perceived chill could reach a biting -7°C.
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Elsewhere across Gloucestershire, Gloucester will experience an early morning chill feeling like -5°C at 5 am on Boxing Day. Cheltenham and Lydney will also see “feels like” temperatures near -4°C during the same time period.
The Met Office’s forecast for the South West region for Christmas Day states: “Mostly dry with plenty of sunshine in the east. The far west will be cloudier, with a chance of rain or sleet showers. A cold, blustery wind will prevail. Maximum temperature 5 °C.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, the outlook remains cold but largely dry: “Largely dry on Boxing Day and through the weekend with variable cloud cover. Some clear or sunny spells. Cold throughout with some night frost and windy periods.”
With such conditions expected, locals are advised to dress warmly and take appropriate precautions to stay comfortable during the festive season.