UK set to enjoy record New Year’s Eve temperatures

By
Lee Moran

Last updated at 12:39 PM on 31st December 2011

Britain will enjoy near-record New Year’s Eve temperatures tonight – with parts of the country warmer than Iraq, Morocco and Spain – capping the second-warmest year ever recorded.

Forecasters said today will be as warm
as average peak temperatures in May, with a balmy New Year the ‘icing on
the cake’ after a year of ‘exceptional’ weather.

The Met Office said mild Atlantic breezes mean many places will see temperatures today 6-8C warmer than yesterday, with all of the UK will enjoying the mercury in double figures.

Waving the year goodbye: Two surfers took advantage of the warmer weather today to catch the last of 2011's surf at Tynemouth Longsands, Tyne and Wear

Waving the year goodbye: Two surfers took advantage of the warmer weather today to catch the last of 2011’s surf at Tynemouth Longsands, Tyne and Wear

Balmy: Londoners are set to take advantage of the warmer weather to flock in their thousands to see the New Year's Eve fireworks display, as seen in last year's picture here

Balmy: Londoners are set to take advantage of the warmer weather to flock in their thousands to see the New Year’s Eve fireworks display, as seen in last year’s picture here

Government weathermen predicted 14C highs in the south – with independent meteorologists forecasting the mercury could hit 15C – before a mild night at 10C in the south and 5C in the north.

The balmy conditions – cloudy, with showers focused only in the west – are expected to lead to some of the biggest ever crowds celebrating New Year outdoors, with hundreds of thousands of revellers expected at midnight fireworks in London, Edinburgh and other cities.

Britain today will be as warm as Iraqi capital Baghdad (14C) and  Marrakech and Paris (13C) , New York (10C), Madrid (7C) and Moscow (2C).

But the UK cannot quite match Sydney’s 24C, where a million will watch the Harbour Bridge fireworks.

Remarkably, temperatures will be as warm
as the normal 14C maximums in May, up to 8C warmer than the usual 7C
peaks at this time of year.

Marrakech, Morocco

Madrid, Spain

Hotter than the Med: Britain will be warmer on New Year’s Eve than Marrakesh, in Morroco, and Madrid in Spain

But Britain will be cold in comparison to Sydney, where revellers will enjoy temperatures of 24C as they see in the New Year

But Britain will be cold in comparison to Sydney, where revellers will enjoy temperatures of 24C as they see in the New Year

And they will nudge the highest temperature even recorded on a December 31, which the Met Office said is understood to be just shy of 16C.

Forecasters said New Year’s Day will also be mild, at up to 12C, with sunny spells – boosting 500,000-plus spectators expected at London‘s New Year’s Day Parade, and making for perfect conditions for a brisk hangover-easing walk for others.

The warm New Year is capping a barmy year’s weather which saw the seasons turned upside-down, with Britain’s hottest ever recorded spring and second-hottest autumn making up for the coolest summer since 1993.

Warmest on record: Early blossom on a tree in St James's Park in London this week as the extremely mild weather continued to confuse nature

Warmest on record: Early blossom on a tree in St James’s Park in London this week as the extremely mild weather continued to confuse nature

Winter sunshine: Two youngsters made the most of the winter sunshine during a trip to Tynemouth Beach in North Tyneside yesterday

Winter sunshine: Two youngsters made the most of the winter sunshine during a trip to Tynemouth Beach in North Tyneside yesterday

Met Office figures showed the UK’s mean temperature through 2011 has been 9.6C, making this year the second warmest year since records began in 1910. Only 2006, at 9.73C, was hotter.

Boffins will produce final figures after adding temperatures today, but 2011 is expected to just edge out the previous second-warmest year, 2007, at 9.59C.

This year has also been more than 1.5C warmer than 2010 – a giant amount in meteorological terms.

Flashback: Was this really just a year ago? A herd of deer in Bristol's Ashton Court estate pictured in December 2010 as temperatures plummeted across Britain

Flashback: Was this really just a year ago? A herd of deer in Bristol’s Ashton Court estate pictured in December 2010 as temperatures plummeted across Britain


Enlarge

 
The average temperature for the UK in 2011 was nearly 9.73C - compared to the long term average of just 8.59C

The average temperature for the UK in 2011 was nearly 9.73C – compared to the long term average of just 8.59C

Met Office forecaster Charlie Powell
said: ‘Today looks exceptionally mild and it’s safe to say this will be
potentially one of the warmest New Year’s Eves on record.

UPCOMING WEATHER FORECAST:

New Year’s Day

Sunshine and scattered showers for
most places in western side. Eastern side of UK should remain dry. 
North 4C,  South 9C.  Breezy – all areas, some gale force coastal
gusting to the north and west.

Monday, January 2

Showers for western side of Scotland,
NW England, SW England, South and West Wales. They will advance further
south and east late on but for the bulk of the day it should be
essentially dry with sunny spells.   North 5C  South 9C.  Breezy – all
areas, some gale force coastal gusting to the north and west.

Tuesday, January 3

Heavy and persistent rain for much of
the UK.  Showers over the hills of Scotland and Northern Ireland
possibly wintry.  North 4C  South 10C.  Breezy – all areas.  Gales –
chiefly north and west, but fairly widespread in general.

Source: positiveweathersolutions.co.uk

‘There will be nationwide double figures and 14C in a few places in the south, although 15C might be pushing it.

‘It will be mainly cloudy and breezy, with winds not as strong as earlier this week.

‘The evening will stay mild, with some rain most likely in the west – but nothing too heavy.

‘New Year’s Day will mild again at 8C-12C, with some bright, sunny spells suitable for a walk, and cloud and scattered showers at other times.’

Positive Weather Solutions senior forecaster Jonathan Powell added: ‘An extraordinary year’s weather is ending on a balmy note.

‘A good chance of 14C-plus across parts of south-west England.

‘It’s remarkably mild for the time of year.

‘It means partygoers can dress down rather than up, with far fewer scarves and hats than would normally be on show.

‘2011 stands out as an exceptional year weather-wise, with extremes right through the 12 months.

‘A mild spring and scorching parts of autumn made up for a lacklustre summer – so a mild end to the year really is the icing on the cake.’

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

20 degrees in Palma de Mallorca today. Madrid is situated in the middle of the Meseta and at 646 meters (2,119 feet) above sea level it is the highest capital city in Europe. That’s why Spain’s capital is cool in the winter.

So much for “global warming”.

Lets hope our extortionate utility bills will be lower than anticipated…Iv’e hardly had the heating on and cant afford to either!

It was too hot to sit out for lunch in my back garden today without the parasols.
Admittedly it gets chilly in the evening but still much warmer than UK !!!!!

Ach rubbish! I’ve just spent an afternoon shopping in freezing cold drizzle and damp, so I’m glad to be indoors with the heating on. As for Madrid, my mate has lived there since the 80s and it is freezing in winter. Every year I get photos of him in a huge overcoat to prove it. I’ve only ever been there in August when it’s boiling. It’s a place of 2 extremes – unbearable heat in high summer and sub zero at some points in the winter.

No need for such a blanket statement DM it’s hotter than Morocco in my house but outside no such luck.

Spoken to daughter in Crete – we are warmer than there – day and night – not often you can say that!!!!

26c in Mojacar today and tonights tiempo is 13c I think DM we are litle warmer than the UK

Just came back last night from Tenerife, which lies off the coast of Morocco, yes the nights can be chilly so this article is half correct, but most of the days are bright sunshine with temperatures of over 22, been swimming in the sea and sunbathing – got a tan – would I have gotten this in London?!?

I have just had lunch overlooking the beach in Agadir and it was 25 degrees – is that how hot it is in the UK??
I don’t think so – it might be hotter than Marrakech which is inland and so has cold winter temperatures but here in Agadir it is gorgeous.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes