Britain is bracing for a potential festive weather event not witnessed in over four decades, as forecasters predict a White Christmas could be on the way for parts of the country.
Met Office Predicts Festive Flurries
The Met Office has indicated that snow could fall in some areas of England on 25 December, Christmas Day. This raises the prospect of the first truly widespread White Christmas across the nation since the historic winter of 1981. According to the official definition, the Met Office declares a White Christmas if a single snowflake is observed falling within the 24-hour period of December 25th, recorded either by an official observer or an automated weather station.
Where Snow is Most Likely
Speaking to the Guardian on Monday, 22 December, Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna identified the regions with the highest chance of seeing wintry conditions. "The south coast of England down towards South Devon and Cornwall perhaps [has] the greatest chance of seeing the odd wintry flurry if there were to be [any]," he stated. Petagna also noted that while a single flake qualifies, widespread lying snow on Christmas Day remains a much rarer occurrence.
Forecasting Challenges and Nationwide Outlook
Ben Rich, the BBC's Lead Weather Presenter, explained the complexities involved. "Forecasting snow in the UK is notoriously difficult. It requires two key elements - cold air and precipitation - and the latter ingredient will be lacking as high pressure keeps the weather dry in most places," he said. This drier spell will be welcome news in regions like Cumbria and south Wales, which have recently experienced heavy rainfall.
Rich added that while some computer models suggest a little wet weather might brush the Channel Islands and far south of England, the chance of this turning to sleet or snow over the highest ground remains "extremely low." The predominant forecast for most is a chilly and bright Christmas Day, rather than a white one. High pressure is expected to linger near the UK through the New Year, bringing settled conditions with patches of frost and fog.
