XMAS MIRACLE
UK weather – Brits strip off in Christmas sunshine as temperatures hit 10C after floods and gales
BRITS enjoyed a sunny Christmas Day yesterday — a welcome holiday respite after 60mph winds, hail and torrential rain caused flooding this week.
Many braved the chilly waters in Wales and the South West in festive cossies and Santa hats after the sun broke over the horizon.
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Swimming clubs in Brighton and Hyde Park took an annual swim to start their Christmas Day.
In Wales, merry-makers splashed around the freezing waters dressed in festive beachwear.
The latest Met Office weather forecast read: "Scattered showers in the far north, else a dry day with sunny spells.
"Frost and a few fog patches in north-east Scotland and south-west England this morning, and then in central and eastern areas this evening."
For tonight, the weather forecasters added: "Frost and fog patches in the north and east, tending to clear as cloud and breeze increases, ahead of a band of rain moving east across western areas."
Bookies had taken a flurry of bets on it being a White Christmas and, according to statistics, that has happened 38 times in the last 54 years.
But despite the Met Office’s forecast ruling out snow, the sun will soon vanish later this week.
More wind and rain is forecast for most on Boxing Day — with a mixed bag for all until the New Year.
Earlier, Brits were warned over "treacherous" roads amid torrential downpours as millions of people embarked on a Christmas getaway.
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SANTA'S SUNSHINE
Thousands of families are on flood alert and facing a Christmas wash out with homes from Cornwall to Middlesbrough affected.
A total of 138 flood alerts and 54 flood warnings were in place on Monday night after a deluge of rain battered the South of England.
AA president Edmund King said standing water remains on many roads in the south despite a spell of relatively drier weather following recent downpours.
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A recent AA poll suggested 74 per cent of motorists would risk driving through flood water despite the risk of being swept away.
Mr King said: "I have done a lot of driving in the last week and some of the driving conditions have been treacherous.
"Many rural roads in the south, whilst still passable with care, have large puddles of water on the sides.
";Drivers need to slow down if they want to get home safely for Christmas."
It came after up to 2in (40mm) of rain fell in 36 hours on Saturday and Sunday in the South East to cap one of the wettest autumns on record.
About 90 homes were flooded, with rivers bursting their banks in Kent, East Sussex and Berkshire.
FESTIVE FLOOD CHAOS
Flood chaos brought misery for families hoping to getaway for Christmas with queues of up to an hour on the M25.
Environment Agency flood duty manager Carol Holt said: "While the weather outlook is improving, rivers continue to respond to recent rainfall, meaning that there is a continued risk of flooding in parts of southern and central England over the next few days."
Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday is believed to have eased the annual getaway dash as journeys have been spread out across several days.
London Paddington will be closed from Tuesday until Saturday due to Network Rail carrying out track and overhead wiring improvements at Southall, plus Crossrail upgrades.
MOST READ IN NEWS
A total of 386 engineering projects are being carried out across Britain's rail network over the festive period.
London King's Cross, London Liverpool Street and Ashford International services will be among those suffering the worst disruption.
Passengers are advised to check journey details before they travel.
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