There has been warnings of stormy conditions and unsettled weather moving in from Friday.
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Parts of the north and north-west will be hardest hit by Barbara, with widespread gusts of 80mph to 90mph predicted.
Cold and blustery winds are expected to bring heavy and frequent wintry showers across northern and western Scotland on Wednesday and Thursday.
Here are three graphics displaying computer model forecasts for roughly 6 PM on Christmas Day.
Stormy weather is expected to sweep across the United Kingdom over the Christmas weekend, with the country set to take a battering from gales and heavy rain.
A Met Office spokesman said: “Travel disruptions will affect people travelling within the yellow and amber warning area as major disruption to bridges and travel networks is expected”. The strongest of the winds should ease later on Thursday.
He said AA crews will work throughout the period to deal with any breakdowns – with around 100 on a normal Christmas Day. Skies will clear late tonight, and we’ll enjoy mostly sunny but breezy conditions on Wednesday. This system moves out later in the day and we are looking drier Christmas Eve and sunny Christmas Day with highs in the lower 40s.
“Ferries are particularly susceptible to disruption due to high winds and we may also see some disruption to flights”. Barbara is next on the list of storm names allocated by the Met Office.
The weather is expected to become calmer throughout 24 December.
Torrential rain and 70mph gales could batter festivities on the big day with 1,200 troops prepared to respond.
Strong winds and lightning could cause disruption to travel and power supplies across some parts of Scotland, forecasters have warned.
As the storm continues its eastward push into the weekend, snow, freezing rain, and sleet is possible in the Great Basin region, including Wyoming, Montana, and Utah, according to The Weather Channel.
The weekend storm is still too far away for details, but a couple of more likely scenarios are coming into form.
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Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes added: “Britain’s weather watchers have spoken and they have completely given up on the hopes of a White Christmas”.
