Parts of England are on alert for a picturesque white Christmas, with fresh weather maps pinpointing the first four counties expected to see snowfall on December 25. Data suggests a band of snow will arrive just in time for the festive morning, creating potential travel disruption alongside the seasonal scenery.
Christmas Eve Snowfall and County-by-County Impact
According to detailed projections from WX Charts, which utilises Met Desk data, the festive snowfall will begin its arrival on Christmas Eve. The initial flurries are predicted to reach sections of the Kent coast around 6pm on December 24.
From there, the snow is forecast to push inland overnight, blanketing areas within Sussex, Suffolk, and Norfolk in the early hours of Christmas Day itself. This precise mapping offers the clearest indication yet of where in England residents are most likely to wake up to a snow-covered landscape on December 25.
Unsettled Week Ahead with Flooding Risk
The run-up to Christmas is set to be notably turbulent across the UK. The Met Office forecast for Thursday, December 18, warns of "prolonged, heavy downpours" which may cause significant travel disruption, particularly across southern England and Wales. It will also be windy for many regions.
Looking further ahead, the outlook for Friday to Monday indicates a continued pattern of rain or showers, with Saturday seeing rain edging in from the west. The BBC Weather forecast corroborates this unsettled picture, noting that the rest of the week will be "very unsettled, with further bands of rain, some heavy, along with occasionally strong winds."
There is a heightened risk of flooding, with parts of south Wales and southern England deemed particularly susceptible. The forecast also warns of gales or severe gales around the Irish Sea and across parts of north and west Scotland.
Regional Divisions in Festive Forecast
While the spotlight is on snow for parts of the South East, the rest of the country faces a different festive forecast. The advanced GFS model suggests that much of the UK will experience dry conditions on Christmas Day.
However, rain is predicted for areas across the South of England, the Midlands, and more widely across Scotland. This creates a sharp divide in Christmas Day weather, with a select few counties potentially enjoying a white Christmas while others contend with rain or grey skies.
Residents in the affected counties are advised to stay updated with the latest Met Office warnings as Christmas approaches, especially if planning travel during the festive period.
