With winter settling in early, the country faces a mix of snow and rain in the coming days. While snowstorms will sweep through the north, many areas in southern England are set to avoid the worst of the weather. Meanwhile, Christmas Day itself is expected to be mild and unsettled, with rain and strong winds replacing the traditional festive snowfall. Here’s a look at the upcoming conditions and what they mean for UK residents.
A Cold Start to December
According to weather charts from WXCharts, December 1 will mark the start of a particularly wintry period, with snow stretching from the Highlands down to Newcastle. Up to 10mm of snow could fall per hour in some regions, bringing a sharp drop in temperatures and making travel conditions treacherous, particularly in the northern parts of the country. The snow will be heaviest in the Highlands, where up to 9cm of snow is forecast to settle, while areas such as Dundee could see around 3cm.
The West Midlands and Northumberland are also expected to experience some snowfall, while a lighter dusting is likely along the southern coast, stretching from Greater London to the western counties. For those in southern areas such as Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire, however, the coming storms will pass them by. These regions will likely remain snow-free during this early winter blast.
The weather is expected to worsen over the following days, with flurries lingering until December 4. The cold spell, accompanied by strong winds, will bring some difficult conditions, especially for motorists and pedestrians in affected areas. However, the likelihood of significant snowfalls in the South remains low, with the weather expected to be much milder there.
Milder Forecast for Christmas Day
Despite the frosty start to the month, the Met Office’s long-range forecast suggests that the UK is unlikely to experience a white Christmas this year. The festive period is predicted to remain unsettled, with a mixture of rain, strong winds, and mild temperatures expected across much of the country. According to the Met Office, there will be some drier spells in the southeast, but rain and wind will dominate in other regions. The northern parts of the UK may see snow, but only on higher ground.
For many hoping for a traditional snowy Christmas, this forecast may come as a disappointment. The Met Office defines a white Christmas as a single snowflake falling anywhere in the UK on Christmas Day, but even then, snow on the ground is rarely seen. The last widespread snow event on Christmas Day occurred in 2010, when snow covered the ground at 83% of Met Office stations, a record high. Since then, snow on Christmas has been more of a rare occurrence, with the UK seeing snow on Christmas Day only four times since 1960.
The chances of a white Christmas have been steadily decreasing due to the effects of climate change, which has led to warmer winters overall. According to the Met Office, while the number of snow events has declined in recent decades, the possibility of snowfall on Christmas Day has not been completely ruled out. However, the likelihood of snow settling on the ground remains minimal, with wetter, milder conditions expected to dominate for most of the UK this year.
