Met Office predicts ‘wintry showers’ during Christmas week as hopes for snow raised

The Met Office predicted last week that the chance of a White Christmas is low, but the odds may be improving.

With Christmas only a week away, many people have begun to lose hope that the streets will be covered in snow for the big day this year. The remaining hope for a White Christmas was further dampened when the Met Office predicted last week that snowfall was unlikely this year.

However, there could be a chance this could change as the latest forecast for Christmas week predicts falling temperatures. With a wintry chill to set into the air, the chances of the white stuff starting to flutter down from the skies is increased.

According to the national forecaster, there is potential for “wintry showers” next week in the east as Brits grab their last bits and pieces before the big day. While it is not confirmed that this will occur on December 25, it is the closest Brits have had to a White Christmas in years.

In fact, the last proper snowfall on Christmas day was way back in 2010. Tom Crabtree, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, marked out the new forecast for Christmas week. He said: “High pressure is expected to build into next week, bringing drier and less mild conditions for the Christmas period.”

While many would think that a White Christmas would be defined by snow blanketing the ground and rooftops, it seems that the Met Office’s definition is widely different. In fact, it defines a White Christmas as at least one snowflake falling on December 25, reports the Mirror.

So technically, the last White Christmas in the UK happened in 2023 – not that any of us noticed. Tom continued: “Although temperatures will drop, they are not plummeting. Overnight frosts are likely, and some mist and fog is possible in places, but significant cold weather looks less probable.

“Falling temperatures do bring the potential for some wintry showers in the east, but it is too early to discern details for any particular day over the Christmas period.”

Scotland has been hit with an unusual warm spell over the last week or so due to Storm Bram and the miserable weather that has followed.

While many thought we would be grabbing our wooly hats and gloves to fight off the cold, instead we have been donning our waterproof jackets and umbrellas to try and minimise being soaked in the downpours.

Looking at the long range forecast into New Year’s Eve, the wet conditions are seen to settle in some areas, but it may be best to keep your dry clothing within reach.

The Met Office forecast for December 22 to 31 reads: “Unsettled conditions are likely to continue at first, with low pressure probably centred somewhere to the southwest of the UK, whilst high pressure becomes established to the northeast.

“This means a broadly easterly flow will become increasingly dominant through next week, whilst periods of rain or showers become increasingly confined to southern or southwestern parts.”

It continues: “With time, high pressure is signalled to become more dominant with more in the way of dry, settled weather anticipated though there could be some isolated showers to eastern parts, that could perhaps be wintry at times.

“Temperatures will lower compared to recent weeks, closer to or perhaps a little below average for many. Overnight frost and fog or freezing fog could become more prevalent, though any particularly cold conditions look unlikely at this stage.”

Looking into the new year, the forecast does predict that the “chance of wintry hazards is higher than in previous weeks”. So if Brits aren’t hit with that single snowflake on Christmas day, it may occur in the new year.