The Met Office has announced that the UK faces a notably chilly Christmas Day this year, with a slim possibility of festive snowfall along the south coast of England. This could mark the nation's first official white Christmas in two years.
A Cold Snap for Christmas Day
Forecasters predict a significant drop in temperature, with the mercury struggling to climb above 5 to 7°C across the country. This will feel even colder due to wind chill, making it a much colder festive period than the UK has experienced in recent years.
Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna emphasised the change, stating the day would be "quite a drop from what we've seen of late." He confirmed that for most people, the weather will be dry but cold, with the best of any brightness likely in western and north-western regions.
The Slim Chance of Festive Snow
All eyes will be on the far south of England on Christmas Day. Mr Petagna indicated there is "just a chance" of one or two wintry flurries developing, particularly for those on the south coast.
However, he tempered expectations, noting the probability of any significant snowfall is only around 10%. Any snow that does fall is more likely to be sleet or wet snow, with significant accumulations and settling deemed unlikely. "All we need, of course, is for a flake of snow to fall anywhere across the UK for it to technically be termed a 'white Christmas'," Petagna explained.
Historical Context for a White Christmas
The UK's last official white Christmas was declared in 2023, when 11% of weather stations recorded falling snow, though it did not settle. The last widespread white Christmas with snow on the ground occurred in 2010, when a remarkable 83% of stations reported snow cover.
The record for the coldest Christmas Day remains with Gainford, Durham, which recorded a frigid -18.3°C back in 1878. While temperatures this year won't come close to that historic low, the forecast confirms a return to more seasonal chill after a run of milder Christmases.
