Britain is bracing for a bitterly cold and potentially white Christmas this year, with the latest weather maps forecasting blizzards and sub-zero temperatures for December 25th.
Snow and Sub-Zero Temperatures on the Way
According to detailed projections from WXCHARTS, vast swathes of the UK will be painted in icy blues and whites on Christmas Day. The most severe conditions are expected in Scotland, where the Highlands, Argyll and Bute, and Perth and Kinross will see temperatures plummet to a frigid -1C. In Wales, the mercury will struggle to rise above freezing, with mid and west Wales hitting 0C and southern and western areas seeing just 1C.
Where and When Will It Snow?
The festive snowfall is predicted to begin in the early hours. At midnight on Christmas Day, parts of East London, Essex, and Suffolk could see the first flakes fall. This snow is then forecast to spread, covering almost the entirety of Suffolk by 6am. The wintry conditions are not expected to be a brief affair, with the snow in these eastern regions likely to linger throughout Boxing Day as well.
The Met Office has echoed this chilly outlook, warning of "rather wintry" and unsettled conditions for the coming weekend. In its forecast for the period leading up to and including Christmas, the national weather service indicated a shift towards higher pressure, which typically brings calmer but colder weather.
Met Office Warns of Frost, Fog, and Gales
While the chance of heavy rain and strong winds may decrease in the run-up to the holiday, the Met Office highlights other seasonal hazards. "There may be an increasing incidence of overnight frost and fog, the latter perhaps taking its time to clear, given the time of year," a forecaster explained. For the period from December 18th to the 27th, the west and northwest of the UK could still face deluges of showers and rain.
The forecast also notes: "Any snow will probably be confined to high ground in the north. Strong winds are possible at times with a risk of gales, especially along coasts and over higher ground." As the festive period progresses, conditions are expected to settle further, leading to drier weather but a greater risk of persistent frost and fog, making for a distinctly chilly Christmas atmosphere.
