UK Weather: White Christmas ‘Quite Likely’ For Some Parts Of The UK

Despite a relatively balmy festive season so far, dreams of a White Christmas could be realised for some, with rural Scotland having the highest chance of experiencing the enchanting event.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: “It’s quite likely that parts of Scotland, particularly the southern uplands and possibly the central hills above a couple of hundred metres or so, will see some snow.

“It is most likely to fall through the afternoon and in to the evening over Christmas Day.

Most of us will not see a #WhiteChristmas but it is set to turn colder through #ChristmasDay and into #BoxingDay – @LukeMiall has the latest pic.twitter.com/nmLXqh9cpR — Met Office (@metoffice) December 23, 2017
“We will possibly see some snow in the hills and mountains of Wales and the north of England.”

Bookmaker Coral has seen an increase in customers having a flutter on a flurry of snow in 13 of the UK’s biggest cities.

Aberdeen has the shortest odds at 2-1 for snowfall, while Birmingham and Manchester are both on 6-1.

Meanwhile things are looking less optimistic for London, where the chances of snowfall in London were “virtually nil”, with odds trailing on 8-1.

For years, Christmas was declared “white” if a single flake of snow was observed by a professional meteorologist falling on the roof of the London Weather Centre.

Dreaming of a #WhiteChristmas? #Snow is a possibility on #ChristmasDay, mainly over the hills. However, eastern Scotland may see some snow to lower levels overnight into #BoxingDay pic.twitter.com/LUtQtUDiVu

December 23, 2017
The Met Office has now broadened its definition to extend to other parts of the country, although the snow still has to be recorded by a professional.

Coral spokesman Harry Aitkenhead said: “It may be punters betting with their hearts rather than their heads but over the last few months we have taken a record number of bets on this year being a white Christmas.

“We will be paying out long into Boxing Day if snow does fall.”

The temperature predictions for Britain’s major cities are mild, with some cities forecast to be warmer than Madrid and Istanbul.

London and Birmingham are set to reach a high of 10C, with Manchester topping out at 11C, and even Aberdeen reaching a mild 6C.

Istanbul is currently just 8C while Madrid is sitting at 9C.

The Met Office has forecast a mild and breezy Christmas Day across most of the UK, with patchy drizzle over the hills and coasts.

Northern Ireland, western Scotland and parts of north-west England will see heavier and more persistent rain.