The UK faces a chilly Christmas Day with temperatures no higher than 5 to 7C across the country. The Met Office says there is "just a chance" of snow flurries on the south coast of England, potentially marking the UK's first white Christmas in two years.
Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna detailed the forecast: «By Christmas Day, (temperatures will be) no better than 5 to 7C across the UK, so quite a drop from what we've seen of late, and feeling cold in that wind, as well.» He added: «On Christmas Day, we need to keep an eye on the far south of the UK, particularly the south coast of England. There's just a chance we could see one or two wintry flurries developing.»
The likelihood of significant snow remains low. «There's only a 10% chance of anything significant developing there, but all we need, of course, is for a flake of snow to fall anywhere across the UK for it to technically be termed a 'white Christmas', so something to keep an eye on across the far south of England», Petagna explained. For most regions, the forecast shows dry, chilly weather with the best brightness towards the west and northwest.
Severe cold snap forecast post-Christmas
After Christmas Day, conditions are expected to worsen dramatically. Forecaster James Madden of Exacta Weather predicts a 760-mile snow storm bringing temperatures as low as -9C and up to four inches of snow across regions from Cornwall to Scotland.
The cold snap is forecast to intensify from Boxing Day onwards. «After a now fully expected and upcoming cold and dry Christmas period with some wintry weather possibilities for a true white Christmas across at least higher ground in parts further north, the well-touted cold conditions and snow and even widespread snow for December (north and south) will continue», Madden said.
Weather projections indicate 27 to 29 December as the key period for snow. «And repeated dates of the 27–29 December is still currently the favourable period to get excited for snow on the basis of current forecast projections, and they could still shift forward slightly or even intensify and enhance somewhat between now and then», the forecaster explained. He added: «Additionally, because of this, some snow showers could even turn up in parts further south of Scotland and northern England from as early as Boxing Day.»
Weather charts from WX Charts indicate January 3 could mark a dramatic shift in conditions, with the North East of England, Scottish Highlands, central belt and borders particularly vulnerable.
Historical context
The last white Christmas by Met Office definition was in 2023, when 11% of weather stations recorded snow falling but not settling. The last widespread white Christmas with snow on the ground occurred in 2010, when 83% of stations recorded snow. The lowest Christmas Day temperature ever recorded in the UK was -18.3C in Gainford, Durham, in 1878.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
