The worst of the weather is expected to hit Scotland, with weather warnings in place until Sunday.
A rally on the first trading day of the new year has taken London's main share index through the milestone.
For the first time, children will be offered vaccination on the NHS against the common infection which, in rare cases, can be very serious.
Wind, solar and other renewables hit a new high last year but the government is still some way off its clean power target.
Paul Ovenden, who left Downing Street in September, says the British state has been "emasculating itself".