A white Christmas is increasingly unlikely for residents of East Yorkshire as the Met Office has forecast predominantly cloudy skies with mild temperatures hovering around 10°C to 11°C on Christmas Day. The weather report suggests less than five percent chance of rain, allowing families to enjoy their Christmas walks without the worry of being soaked.
The detailed weather outlook for Christmas Day indicates the following conditions: from 12 AM to 3 AM, temperatures will be around 11°C with overcast skies; this will drop slightly to 10°C between 3 AM and 12 PM, remaining overcast. From 12 PM to 3 PM, the temperature will again reach 11°C, and finally from 3 PM to 9 PM, it will settle back to 10°C, becoming cloudier later on.
The Met Office has also laid out expectations for the surrounding days leading to the festivities, stating: "Predominantly settled, mild, and cloudy conditions are expected for the Christmas period, with winds gradually easing. Damp at times in the west, but drier throughout the east. Limited overnight frosts."
Meanwhile, the Green Party has officially declared its candidate for the upcoming Hull and East Yorkshire mayoral election set for May. Kerry Harrison, who resides in Hessle and established her roots in the area back in 2016, is vying for the title of the region's first directly elected combined authority mayor. Harrison runs her own social media consultancy, works as a life coach, and is employed at a special educational needs school located in Anlaby.
Previously, during the general election, she represented the Green Party for the Hull North and Cottingham constituency, garnering 6.1 percent of the vote. Harrison hopes to challenge the dominance of Labour and Conservative parties, which have historically held the mayoral positions across England.
After being selected as the Green Party candidate, Harrison stated: "To make this so-called devolution work, it has to be about all the people in Hull and the East Riding, not just about big corporations. What do they want from their new Mayor?" Her commitment to listening to the community resonates strongly throughout her candidacy.
She added: "I run my own business, work in special needs education, am a certified coach, and am training toward a counselling qualification. One important skill binding all of these roles is to listen—to your customers, your suppliers, your employees, and your colleagues. That way, success benefits everyone." Harrison is set to engage with residents over the next few months to understand their priorities, indicating her intention to offer fresh ideas rather than recycling old policies.
On another note, the Hull community mourns the loss of Andy Maynard, a beloved local father and grandfather who recently expressed support for new assisted dying legislation. Maynard, 53, passed away at Dove House Hospice on December 5, following a rapid decline due to brain tumor diagnosis which drastically changed his active lifestyle.
Describing the shock of Maynard's passing, his widow, Terry, shared, "It was just so unexpected. From diagnosis to his passing was eight weeks." She fondly detailed his craftsmanship, noting he could fix anything from plumbing to carpentry and shared cherished memories of their life together, including how he personally crafted their wedding rings from melted-down gold family heirlooms.
The couple first met as children, reconnecting years later through social media and marrying in January 2017. Terry described their deep bond, stating, "Family was everything to him and everyone who knew him loved him." She expressed gratitude for the compassionate care provided by Dove House Hospice, emphasizing how the staff treated them with personal attention rather than as just patients.
Meanwhile, as Christmas approaches, many are tackling the last-minute shopping rush. The experience can be overwhelming, especially with the busy crowds at local supermarkets. One local shopper ventured out to Kingswood, where the combination of various shops alleviated some of the stress. Despite the initial queues and packed aisles, they found the stock levels encouraging, including some remaining turkeys for Christmas dinner.
They remarked on the efforts of supermarket staff, who were actively restocking shelves, helping to keep the aisles stocked during the busy holiday shopping season. With some missing items but plenty of alternatives available, shoppers may still find what they need for their festive meals without too much hassle.
All considered, the Hull and East Yorkshire region faces a blend of celebrations and somber moments as the festive season nears. With mild weather, new political aspirations, and honoring cherished memories, the community remains resilient and spirited, ready to embrace whatever the Christmas season delivers.
