According to forecasters, there is a “small chance” of wintry weather in parts of the UK at the end of the year. However, the more likely scenario for many areas on Christmas Day is rain. The Met Office is currently predicting unsettled conditions and average temperatures for the days leading up to Christmas. The North West is expected to see the highest chance of rainfall during Christmas week. Despite this, the Met Office has mentioned an increasing possibility of snow and ice in late December and the New Year period.
The forecast for the festive period remains “very uncertain” due to it being two weeks away. Sky News weather producer, Christopher England, mentioned that a white Christmas is unlikely away from Scottish hills. However, he added that there is a small chance of more wintry weather developing after Christmas and into the New Year. In the coming days, the weather is expected to be unsettled before a calmer and drier spell over the weekend and into next week as Christmas approaches. The risk of fog and frost is expected in the south, particularly the southeast, while rain is most likely in parts of the northwest.
The Met Office’s long-range forecast predicts that most places will experience settled conditions this weekend. However, Scotland is likely to remain in a “more wet and windy regime.” In the days leading up to Christmas Eve, there is a potential for a return to unsettled conditions and average temperatures. While the chance of snow and ice increases into the New Year period, the Met Office emphasizes that, overall, conditions are more likely to remain generally mild and wet.
The UK saw cold temperatures and snow and ice in some areas at the start of December, creating a festive atmosphere. Technically, 2022 was considered a white Christmas because 9% of the weather stations recorded falling snow. However, none of them reported any snow lying on the ground. The last widespread white Christmas in the UK occurred in 2010.
The weather forecast for the Christmas period in the UK remains uncertain, with a small chance of wintry weather in some areas. While rain is more likely for many regions on Christmas Day, there is an increasing possibility of snow and ice later in December and into the New Year. The days leading up to Christmas Eve are expected to be unsettled, but a calmer and drier spell is anticipated as Christmas approaches. The Met Office predicts settled conditions for most places this weekend, except for Scotland, which is likely to experience wet and windy weather. Overall, conditions are more likely to be mild and wet during the New Year period. As we look back at past Christmases, 2022 technically qualifies as a white Christmas due to falling snow, but the last widespread occurrence was in 2010.
Leave a Reply