Met Office issues updated forecast for snow over Christmas across UK

There’s a possibility that some areas in the UK could experience a white Christmas, according to the Met Office. However, forecasters warn that any snowfall is likely to be limited to higher ground in northern areas, so it won’t be widespread.

In its long range weather forecast for the period from Saturday, December 21 until Monday December 30, the Met Office said: “Any snow will most likely be restricted to high ground in the North, although it could temporarily fall at lower levels during any colder interludes.”

Overall conditions are expected to be “unsettled” in the coming weeks, with spells of wet and windy weather mixed with drier and brighter conditions. However, it’s likely to be the northwest that’s hardest hit with wet weather.

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Forecasters said: ”The wettest and windiest conditions will probably be in the north, especially the northwest, with spells of heavy rain at times as low pressure systems pass by.” The south is expected to be “drier overall” but with some unsettled weather still forecast.

In terms of temperatures, the Met Office says that it will be “above average for much of the time, although some brief colder incursions remain possible.” Going into the new year, the weather is set to remain “changeable”.

Predicting from December 31 until January 14, forecasters said: “Spells of wet and windy weather interspersed with some drier, more settled interludes. The heaviest rain and strongest winds will generally be in the north, with the south drier and less windy overall.”

Temperatures will be around average, although it’s likely to be mild in the south. In terms of snow in January, forecasters say that it is possible during colder spells. The Met Office said: “Some snow is possible during any colder interludes, especially over high ground in the north.”

According to the Met Office, it’s officially a white Christmas if a single snowflake is observed falling on the 24 hours of December 25, either by an official Met Office observer or by a Met Office automated weather station. However, Christmas actually falls at the beginning of the period where snow is likely in the UK, and forecasters say that we are more likely to see snow in January and February than we are in December.

Technically 2023 was a white Christmas in the UK, with 11 per cent of stations recording snow falling. Although none reported snow lying on the ground. The last widespread white Christmas in the UK was in 2010, which was deemed “extremely unusual” as snow was on the ground at 83 per cent of stations, the highest amount ever recorded, and snow or sleet also fell at 19 per cent of stations.

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