Snow is “possible” this Christmas, according to the Met Office. The forecaster is predicting a period of unsettled weather from Friday, December 20 which could bring the white stuff to parts of the country.
However, at the same time, the Met Office is forecasting temperatures to be around average between December 20 and January 3. The forecaster’s long range weather forecast reads: “Mainly unsettled conditions appear likely for most, with spells of wind and rain followed by showers affecting most areas but especially towards the north or northwest.
“Some sleet and snow is also possible at times, especially on high ground in the north. However, there are also some signs that more settled conditions are possible at times, these perhaps most likely across the south late in December or into early January.
“Temperatures are likely to be around average overall, with any more settled interludes bringing a risk of frost and fog.”
According to the Met Office, for most parts of the United Kingdom, Christmas is only at the beginning of the period when it’s likely to snow. It said: “We are more likely to see snow in January and February than in December, with snow actually settling on the ground (snow lying) an average of 3 days in December, compared to 3.3 days in January, 3.4 days in February and 1.9 days in March (1991 – 2020 long-term averaging period).
“Climate change has also brought higher average temperatures over land and sea and this generally reduced the chances of a white Christmas.”
The definition that the Met Office uses to define a white Christmas is for one snowflake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK. It added it can accurately forecast if snow is likely on any given Christmas Day up to five days beforehand.
The Met Office said 2023 was the last white Christmas in the UK with 11 per cent of stations recording snow falling, although none reported any snow lying on the ground. The last widespread white Christmas in the UK was in 2010.