UK weather: Widespread white Christmas unlikely but some still in with a chance

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With Christmas just a week away, there is a faint hope for a festive dusting of snow in some parts of the UK. After a recent stretch of mild weather, temperatures are expected to drop noticeably, likely settling a degree or two below the seasonal average, ranging between 6 to 9 degrees Celsius. This chill comes as cold air moves in from eastern Europe, and there remains a small chance that even colder air from Scandinavia could sweep in, potentially turning showers in eastern areas into sleet or snow.

The upcoming colder conditions are influenced by the positioning of pressure systems near the UK and nearby regions. A high-pressure system will develop to the north of the UK while a low-pressure area forms near France or Spain. Though these systems won’t be directly over the UK, their exact locations will shape the wind’s direction, which in turn determines how cold the air will feel and the likelihood of snow.

Looking ahead to Christmas Day itself, the weather is predicted to be colder overall, accompanied by cloud cover and developing showers over the North Sea impacting eastern parts of the country. The north and west might enjoy the clearest skies with some sunshine, though there is also a risk of frost and fog during mornings. The direction of the winds is currently expected to be from the east-southeast, but if there is a slight shift to east-northeast winds, this could draw in colder air from Scandinavia and increase the chance of sleet or snow in eastern regions.

Although a widespread white Christmas remains unlikely, it cannot be completely ruled out at this stage. Importantly, heavy rain seems off the agenda this year, bringing relief to areas such as Cumbria and south Wales that have recently endured severe wet weather. Historically, white Christmases are rare, and occurrences of snowfall on the day itself have become even less frequent over time

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

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