It’s good out there for festive walks

If you’re a lover of cold wintry weather in the lead up to Christmas then this year has been a big disappointment. A damp December has continued this past week (December 15 to 21) with little sign of picture postcard Christmas weather.

We did in fact though see the first snowfall of the season in Stirling early Monday, December 16 when sleet turned to snow for a time but it was short lived with little evidence left by dawn.

Maximum temperature: 9.0ºC on Thursday, December 19. Lowest temperature: -1.5ºC on Wednesday, December 18. Maximum daily rainfall: 13.7mm on Thursday, December 19. Weekly rainfall total: 35.5mm. Maximum wind gust: 25mph on Thursday, December 19.

The week ahead will be mostly dry and settled for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The odd light shower is a possibility but other than that if you’re travelling or walking off festive dinners then it’s looking fine for getting outdoors.

It will feel chilly at times especially overnight when the temperature could drop below freezing. Into the weekend, it will turn more unsettled with rain at times and milder temperatures.

Looking further ahead the mild and at times unsettled conditions look like continuing as we move towards and into 2020.

Earliest sunrise: 08.47; latest sunset: 15:48

Did You Know: In Stirling the last time we had snow fall on Christmas Day or already on the ground was 2010. Since then there has been no sign of snow on the big day.

Our weather column is supplied by Scott McLean of Stirling Weather, based in King’s Park. For local weather news including historical and real-time weather information from Stirling visit www. stirlingweather.co.uk and on social media @ stirlingweather and also our weather editor @ scottlmclean.