The weather experts at the Met Office have revealed that a New Year's Day chill will freeze Britain after a cold and damp Christmas.
Snow will land in a very few places across the UK as the year draws to a close, with light flurries expected over higher ground. Northern Scotland, will see the white stuff at around 6pm on Monday, with the snowfall getting heavier throughout the evening.
By midnight, the weather maps show, there is set to be up to four millimetres an hour falling across northern Scotland and the Scottish Highlands. The prediction for the rest of the UK will see seasonal average temperatures. Scotland and Northern Ireland will hit higher temperatures of about 10C, with most of England and Wales getting between 6C and 8C, with most areas, apart from the snow in Scotland, showing dry spells.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: "Not a lot changes through the rest of this week and indeed this weekend, but as we move towards the New Year, we could see a change to cooler conditions and wetter conditions more widely. There could be some heavy rain at times and there is an increasing chance of some snow - but it's too early to say where that snow is going to fall.
"So great news if you do have travel plans over the next few days, no weather warnings are expected, no disruptive weather - but, as I say, not great news if you want a festive feel and certainly no snow or frost on the way."
Met Office's five day forecast and New Year outlook
Today:
Rain will affect central and southern Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland on Boxing Day. Mostly dry and mild, though rather cloudy, further south. Brighter, but colder, across northern Scotland.
Tonight:
Remaining cloudy for most overnight with outbreaks of rain and drizzle across parts of central and northern Scotland, with clearer spells in the far north of Scotland. Mild.
Friday:
Another mild and mostly cloudy day on Friday with patchy rain across parts of Scotland and northern Ireland. Brighter and chilly in the far northwest with isolated showers.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Rain in the northwest clearing southeastwards through Saturday. Then brighter, but colder, with blustery showers, and later rain and hill snow in north on Sunday and Monday.
Monday, December 30 to Wednesday, January 8:
Fronts or low-pressure areas are increasingly likely to move south/east across much of the country, bringing an increased threat of heavy rain and perhaps strong winds. As colder air from the north progresses southwards, the risk of sleet and snow increases, especially in northern areas, but this will depend each day on where the thermal boundary lies. Temperatures will start around average but will become a little below average for most, especially in the north, though milder interludes are still possible in the south. While there is moderate to high confidence in this trend, confidence is low for the exact positioning of any systems, which will be crucial in determining which areas see rain or snow.