Warning issued by the MetOffice:

ADVANCE WARNING OF SEVERE WEATHER

Here is an ADVANCED WARNING of Heavy Snow affecting Northern Scotland,
Eastern Scotland, South West Scotland, Northern Ireland, North West England,
North East England, The Midlands, Wales, South West England, Central
Southern England, South East England and East Anglia AND Lincolnshire.
Issued by the Met Office at 07:01 on Wednesday, 22 December 2004.
This is the first warning of disruption due to Heavy Snow.
The Met Office is forecasting a much colder spell for Christmas.
This will follow a couple of mild, wet and, at times very windy weather
during which gusts to 70mph or more have the potential to cause disruption
in some northern areas.
Snow showers are forecast to develop in the northwest on Christmas Eve and
these will spread to many other northern and western areas on Christmas Day,
becoming heavier and perhaps more prolonged as they do so. There is an
increasing risk of some snow showers in the east on Boxing Day as winds turn
more to the north. There is a possibility of disruption to travel with the
risk of several centimetres of snow accumulating in places, especially over
hills.
Confidence in a cold spell for Christmas is moderate to high but there are
still doubts in the detail, whilst marked localised variations in snowfall
are likely, with some areas escaping.
For enquiries regarding this warning - please contact your regional Met
Office.
Transmitted by the Met Office at 07:01 on Wednesday 22 December