UK set for gloomy Boxing Day with heavy rain across all regions

Shoppers hoping to take advantage of the Boxing Day sales are likely to face a deluge of rain across most of the country, the Met Office has said

Shoppers hoping to take advantage of the Boxing Day sales are likely to face a deluge of rain across parts of the UK, the Met Office has said. Christmas Day’s clear skies will give way to cloud, wind and rain on 26 December, with the south-west of England experiencing the heaviest downpours.

The Environment Agency has issued 36 flood warnings – where flooding is expected – and 96 flood alerts, where flooding is possible.

The Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said a band of rain moving from the south-west to the north-east of England would ensure that “pretty much everywhere” will see some wet weather on Thursday.

He said: “For most places there is going to be a lot of cloud and some rain around too. The heaviest will be in south-west England and Wales. Because of the amount of rain we have seen this month, there could also be some localised flooding.”

About 30mm (1.2in) of rain is expected to fall in some parts of south-west England, while other regions could see up to 20mm throughout the day, Burkill said. Coastal areas in the south-west are also forecast to be hit by winds of up to 50mph. Boxing Day shoppers in London will see the worst of the rain in the morning before the weather clears later in the day.

Despite the bad weather, temperatures are likely to be around 12C in the south and 5C further north. Friday is forecast to be another wet day, but with temperatures increasing to 14C in the west and between 11C to 12C in the north-east of England.

While the rain is forecast to clear later on Friday, it will return on Saturday to the north-west of England. The south-east, meanwhile, will be drier and brighter.

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The 8 best games for your new Nintendo Switch

We’re quickly approaching the third anniversary of the Nintendo Switch, and a lot has changed in that time. Nintendo’s console / tablet hybrid now boasts a mature, varied lineup of games; an online service with Netflix-style access to NES and SNES games; and even a new iteration of the hardware thanks to the smaller, sleeker Switch Lite. Early on, it was easy to figure out what to play; you just downloaded a copy of Breath of the Wild and lost yourself for dozens of hours. Now, things are more challenging because there are so many interesting games.

If you just got your hands on a Switch over the holidays, here are eight great games to start your journey with.

We’ve rounded up our favorite and most-used games, apps, and entertainment. Check out our app picks for iPhones, Android phones, PCs, Macs, and TVs; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass; and our top choices for the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. We’ve also listed our favorite streaming shows on Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix; some great sci-fi books; and exciting new podcasts. (Note: pricing was accurate at the time of publishing, but may change.)

POKÉMON SWORD AND SHIELD

Sword and Shield represent the best Pokémon adventures in years. The new games benefit from the dual nature of the Switch — you can catch monsters on the go and simultaneously enjoy the wonderful new visuals on a big-screen TV — as well as a handful of very welcome changes to the formula. These include new multiplayer raid battles, an open-ended “Wild Area” to explore, and a host of quality-of-life changes that make the quest much more streamlined. Plus, thanks to the new Dynamax feature, you can blow your favorite monsters up to absurd proportions.

UNTITLED GOOSE GAME

You’ve probably never dreamed of being a goose. But there’s a good chance you’ve wondered what it would be like to cause havoc, free of consequences. In this way, Untitled Goose Game is a kind of wish fulfillment. You play as the titular goose, with the goal of creating mostly harmless trouble for the bewildered residents of a small village. It’s cute and charming, and has a dedicated button for letting out a “honk!”

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LINK’S AWAKENING

Link’s Awakening isn’t technically a new game. Instead, it’s a remake of a classic adventure from the original Game Boy. But the remake is so extensive that it feels new. Link’s Awakening might just be the most adorable game on the Switch, thanks to its tiny, diorama-like world, and the game’s quest holds up remarkably well in 2019.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LINK’S AWAKENING

Link’s Awakening isn’t technically a new game. Instead, it’s a remake of a classic adventure from the original Game Boy. But the remake is so extensive that it feels new. Link’s Awakening might just be the most adorable game on the Switch, thanks to its tiny, diorama-like world, and the game’s quest holds up remarkably well in 2019.

FIRE EMBLEM: THREE HOUSES

Fire Emblem has been around for decades, and Three Houses marks the biggest departure yet for the strategy series. It maintains the same tense and tactical combat the franchise is known for, but it opens things up with an all-new structure that simulates life as a professor at a magical academy. It’s sort of like Hogwarts, only more anime, and it means that you’ll be as focused on tests and student relationships as you are on the battlefield.

RING FIT ADVENTURE

Ring Fit Adventure is one of the strangest ideas to come out of Nintendo in some time. On the one hand, it’s a fitness game in the mold of the bestselling Wii Fit series. On the other, it’s also a fantasy adventure complete with worlds to explore and turn-based battles. It sounds like a weird combination, but remarkably, it works; the two seemingly disparate sides complement each other perfectly, resulting in workouts that are actually fun.

SUPER MARIO MAKER 2

For fans of classic side-scrolling Super Mario adventures, Super Mario Maker 2 has a lot to like. In fact, it’ll probably be quite some time before you run out of things to do. There’s a full-fledged single-player mode filled with inventive levels, as well as the titular maker mode where you can craft your own 2D Mario stages. And if you get bored with either of those? You can play through the plentiful, varied stages uploaded by other players.

THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT

The Witcher 3 is one of the best open-world games of the last decade — and now you can take it with you anywhere. The Switch version of the fantasy epic is slightly compromised; the visuals in particular have taken a hit in order to squeeze such a big game onto a tiny handheld. But the payoff is worth it. There’s something very satisfying about being able to play a huge adventure like this wherever you are, and even though The Witcher 3 is nearly five years old at this point, it holds up remarkably well. Even better, the Switch version features all of the downloadable expansions, so you have lots of quality time with Geralt to look forward to.

LUIGI’S MANSION 3

Luigi’s latest adventure isn’t your typical horror game. In fact, it’s much more of a slapstick comedy. Luigi’s Mansion 3 tasks Mario’s bumbling brother with rescuing his friends from a haunted hotel, but — in typical Luigi fashion — he’s a reluctant hero who is scared every step of the way. The result is a hilarious, charming adventure, filled with inventive levels and creative bosses, along with a very satisfying vacuum for sucking up your ghostly enemies.

Read More

The 8 best games for your new Nintendo Switch

We’re quickly approaching the third anniversary of the Nintendo Switch, and a lot has changed in that time. Nintendo’s console / tablet hybrid now boasts a mature, varied lineup of games; an online service with Netflix-style access to NES and SNES games; and even a new iteration of the hardware thanks to the smaller, sleeker Switch Lite. Early on, it was easy to figure out what to play; you just downloaded a copy of Breath of the Wild and lost yourself for dozens of hours. Now, things are more challenging because there are so many interesting games.

If you just got your hands on a Switch over the holidays, here are eight great games to start your journey with.

We’ve rounded up our favorite and most-used games, apps, and entertainment. Check out our app picks for iPhones, Android phones, PCs, Macs, and TVs; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass; and our top choices for the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. We’ve also listed our favorite streaming shows on Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix; some great sci-fi books; and exciting new podcasts. (Note: pricing was accurate at the time of publishing, but may change.)

POKÉMON SWORD AND SHIELD

Sword and Shield represent the best Pokémon adventures in years. The new games benefit from the dual nature of the Switch — you can catch monsters on the go and simultaneously enjoy the wonderful new visuals on a big-screen TV — as well as a handful of very welcome changes to the formula. These include new multiplayer raid battles, an open-ended “Wild Area” to explore, and a host of quality-of-life changes that make the quest much more streamlined. Plus, thanks to the new Dynamax feature, you can blow your favorite monsters up to absurd proportions.

UNTITLED GOOSE GAME

You’ve probably never dreamed of being a goose. But there’s a good chance you’ve wondered what it would be like to cause havoc, free of consequences. In this way, Untitled Goose Game is a kind of wish fulfillment. You play as the titular goose, with the goal of creating mostly harmless trouble for the bewildered residents of a small village. It’s cute and charming, and has a dedicated button for letting out a “honk!”

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LINK’S AWAKENING

Link’s Awakening isn’t technically a new game. Instead, it’s a remake of a classic adventure from the original Game Boy. But the remake is so extensive that it feels new. Link’s Awakening might just be the most adorable game on the Switch, thanks to its tiny, diorama-like world, and the game’s quest holds up remarkably well in 2019.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LINK’S AWAKENING

Link’s Awakening isn’t technically a new game. Instead, it’s a remake of a classic adventure from the original Game Boy. But the remake is so extensive that it feels new. Link’s Awakening might just be the most adorable game on the Switch, thanks to its tiny, diorama-like world, and the game’s quest holds up remarkably well in 2019.

FIRE EMBLEM: THREE HOUSES

Fire Emblem has been around for decades, and Three Houses marks the biggest departure yet for the strategy series. It maintains the same tense and tactical combat the franchise is known for, but it opens things up with an all-new structure that simulates life as a professor at a magical academy. It’s sort of like Hogwarts, only more anime, and it means that you’ll be as focused on tests and student relationships as you are on the battlefield.

RING FIT ADVENTURE

Ring Fit Adventure is one of the strangest ideas to come out of Nintendo in some time. On the one hand, it’s a fitness game in the mold of the bestselling Wii Fit series. On the other, it’s also a fantasy adventure complete with worlds to explore and turn-based battles. It sounds like a weird combination, but remarkably, it works; the two seemingly disparate sides complement each other perfectly, resulting in workouts that are actually fun.

SUPER MARIO MAKER 2

For fans of classic side-scrolling Super Mario adventures, Super Mario Maker 2 has a lot to like. In fact, it’ll probably be quite some time before you run out of things to do. There’s a full-fledged single-player mode filled with inventive levels, as well as the titular maker mode where you can craft your own 2D Mario stages. And if you get bored with either of those? You can play through the plentiful, varied stages uploaded by other players.

THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT

The Witcher 3 is one of the best open-world games of the last decade — and now you can take it with you anywhere. The Switch version of the fantasy epic is slightly compromised; the visuals in particular have taken a hit in order to squeeze such a big game onto a tiny handheld. But the payoff is worth it. There’s something very satisfying about being able to play a huge adventure like this wherever you are, and even though The Witcher 3 is nearly five years old at this point, it holds up remarkably well. Even better, the Switch version features all of the downloadable expansions, so you have lots of quality time with Geralt to look forward to.

LUIGI’S MANSION 3

Luigi’s latest adventure isn’t your typical horror game. In fact, it’s much more of a slapstick comedy. Luigi’s Mansion 3 tasks Mario’s bumbling brother with rescuing his friends from a haunted hotel, but — in typical Luigi fashion — he’s a reluctant hero who is scared every step of the way. The result is a hilarious, charming adventure, filled with inventive levels and creative bosses, along with a very satisfying vacuum for sucking up your ghostly enemies.

Read More

Today's Top Picks: Breaking down every NBA game on the Christmas Day schedule

Welcome to a jumbo edition of top picks! As opposed to the carefully curated picks this space typically provides, I've decided to give you all a gift on this joyous day. There are five NBA games on Christmas. You're getting picks for all of them. So, without further ado, let's dive into today's top picks. 

So which Christmas Day NBA picks should you back for a huge 10-to-1 payout? And which team is a must-fade? Visit SportsLine now to get the best bet for every Christmas Day NBA game, all from the red-hot computer model and No. 1 NBA expert who are crushing sportsbooks with their NBA picks.  

*All lines via William Hill

Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors: Celtics -3

The Celtics and Raptors have already played once this season. The Celtics won by six. Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol and Norman Powell all played in that game, but they won't be playing in this one. Call me crazy, but removing three of a team's best players likely isn't going to lead to a better outcome. Yes, that's an oversimplification, but expecting a team as deep as the Celtics to lose to a Raptors team missing so much talent, even with Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart sidelined, just seems unrealistic. 

Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers: 76ers +3

The unstoppable force meets the immovable object. The Bucks have the NBA's best net rating, as they are crushing teams by 13 points per 100 possessions, buoyed by the NBA's second-best offensive rating (114.4). The 76ers are undefeated at home, led by the NBA's second-best home defense at 101 points allowed per 100 possessions. Philadelphia's preferred starting lineup has barely played together this season due to injuries, but when it has, it has allowed only 94.6 points per 100 possessions, a figure that is utterly mind-boggling in the context of a 2019 starting lineup. The 76ers should have that entire group on Christmas. That is the difference. The Bucks are a better team overall, but the 76ers shouldn't be getting three points at home when they are relatively healthy. 

Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors: Rockets -11

The Warriors have already lost 12 games this season by 11 or more points. If there is a team in basketball to feel comfortable laying double digits against, it is them. Odds are, this turns into a fairly cathartic beatdown for a Rockets team that has been denied consecutive trips to the NBA Finals by Warriors teams that wore these uniforms, but did not employ these players. The NBA obviously expected a very different sort of game than this when they scheduled it for Christmas, but injuries happen, and the Rockets should have no trouble with Golden State in its present condition. 

Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers: Clippers -2

The expectation coming into this game for weeks was that if any team was going to be undermanned, it would be the Clippers. The Lakers have far more at stake from a narrative perspective after their opening day loss, and the Clippers have been so conservative in managing the minutes its players play that it would be reasonable to assume that the Lakers, going all out, would have beaten a Clippers team without much to play for here. 

Instead, the Lakers will be playing with a hobbled Anthony Davis and LeBron James. The Clippers should have their entire roster available on Christmas. Even if you assume that these two teams are even, which they likely aren't at the moment, the Lakers have no alternative to James and Davis. They don't have a third scorer or ball-handler. If they aren't up to their typical standard, the Lakers can't game-plan around it. The Clippers have a variety of ways in which they can, and do, beat opponents. With only a two-point line, the Clippers should be one of the day's easier picks. 

New Orleans Pelicans at Denver Nuggets: Nuggets -9.5

Here's a scary thought ... the Nuggets, who had struggled mightily offensively for most of the season, are up to seventh in the league on that end of the floor in December. That hasn't come with significant sacrifices on defense. They are sixth in the NBA in December defensively. The difference in net rating between these two teams in December alone is 16.1 points per 100 possessions. Suddenly, a 9.5-point spread doesn't look so scary. The Nuggets have found their winning formula. The Pelicans have not. Expect a relatively clean Nuggets win in this one. 

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