It’s beginning to look a lot like a White (Hot) Christmas.
Santa could set off on his sleigh amid record-breaking temperatures across Scotland on Christmas Eve.
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The low-pressure system bringing the high winds pulls air down from the Arctic tomorrow when the wind chill factor will make things feel sub-zero.
But as the wild weather system moves off into the near continent on Monday, it begins to pull up much warmer air from the Azores in the south Atlantic.
Craig Snell of the Met Office said:”We are keeping a close watch on high temperatures expected in Scotland on Tuesday night.
“The country’s record warm overnight temperature of 11.2C (52F) comes from Christmas Eve in 2017 at the Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.
“Our models are showing between 11C and 12C (54F) this year, so it’s going to be close to the record.
“Sadly, it won’t be feeling very festive on Christmas morning.”
Scotland’s warmest daytime temperature on Christmas Day of 15.1C (59F) was shared by Dyce in Aberdeenshire in 2011 and again at Urquhart in Ross and Cromarty in 2016.
The UK record dates from 1920 when a temperature of 15.6C (60F) was recorded at Killerton in Devon.
Mr Snell said the highest temperature expected in Scotland on Christmas Day this year would be a possible 13C (55F) around the Moray Firth.
He added: “While not record-breaking, it is still way above where we should be at the end of the year.
“Most of us can look forward to a grey Christmas, with plenty of cloud, rather than a white one.”
It comes as the country was battered by 80mph winds, sparking travel chaos for those trying to get home for Christmas.
Ferry services were axed and trains were given speed restrictions on the busiest travel weekend of the year.
Shoppers braved the elements as they ventured out to buy last-minute Christmas gifts.
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