UPDATE: The Met Office has just announced that the chances of a white Christmas in the UK this year are “extremely low.” As forecasts reveal a transition to drier conditions next week, the possibility of seeing snow on December 25 is fading rapidly.
In a statement made earlier today, Tom Morgan, operational meteorologist at the Met Office, emphasized that while temperatures are expected to gradually drop, the likelihood of significant snowfall is minimal. “There’s certainly not any significant signal for widespread snow or deep or any kind of really settling snow whatsoever at all at this stage,” Morgan stated.
For a Christmas to be officially declared as “white,” a single snowflake must be observed falling anywhere in the UK within the 24 hours of December 25. Since 1960, over half of Christmas Days have received that designation, but the last occurrence was in 2023, with only 11% of weather stations reporting snow—none of which settled on the ground.
According to Morgan, next week will usher in high-pressure systems that will dominate the weather, replacing the persistent low-pressure systems that have contributed to the wet conditions experienced throughout December. While he noted that there may still be some rain and showers during the Christmas period, the prevailing conditions do not support the ideal scenario for snow.
“We aren’t anticipating any warnings, and it should just be relatively dry, often cloudy, and temperatures just gradually falling lower, day by day, but not particularly cold either,” Morgan added. This means that for the majority of the population, hopes for classic snowy landscapes are likely to be disappointed.
Public weather forecasts focusing on Christmas Day will be made available starting December 19, providing the latest updates as the holiday approaches.
As the festive season draws near, many families may need to adjust their holiday plans and expectations regarding winter weather. With travel conditions looking significantly better than previously anticipated, the Met Office encourages people to stay informed for the latest updates on what to expect come Christmas Day.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops, and prepare for a holiday season that may lack the traditional snowy backdrop many have come to cherish.
