Brace Yourselves for a White Christmas? 400-Mile Snowstorm Incoming!

People looking forward to a White Christmas can also look forward to flurries hours before the big day - but temperatures will fall too. The UK might be in for a white Christmas as weather experts forecast a 400-mile snowstorm to hit just hours before the festive day. Weather maps from WXCharts have turned into a mix of purple, red, yellow, and blue hues, signalling incoming snow and rain. This suggests that both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day could be covered in festive snowflakes. The Met Office's long-range forecast, covering December 24 to the beginning of January, hints at snow and sleet in some areas. The forecast states: “Mainly unsettled conditions appear likely for most, with spells of wind and rain followed by showers affecting most areas but especially the north and northwest of the UK.”

Christmas Eve Blizzard

At 6pm on Christmas Eve, a storm is predicted to engulf almost all of the UK, with severe weather extending from Wick in Scotland to Birmingham. Scotland is anticipated to receive the majority of the snowfall, with up to 4cm of snow expected to fall per hour. Major cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh are likely to be enveloped in the winter weather. England will also experience the snowy spectacle, with snow depths of 2cm forecasted in the North West. However, it's uncertain whether the snow will settle as both the North West and North East are expected to receive heavy rainfall, with up to 2mm of rain per hour predicted. In Yorkshire, particularly coastal North Yorkshire towns like Redcar and Middlesbrough, could also see some snowfall in the hours leading up to the big man arriving on Christmas Day.

A Scottish White Christmas?

The maps show Scotland should see the most severe conditions with Inverness expected to be completely battered by snow. Some parts of the Highlands could see as much as 56cm of snow. The Scottish Lowlands could see up to 7cm, whereas northern parts of England face 4cm. The first long-range weather map showing what Scots can expect on Christmas Day has been released – and there is likely to be major disappointment for many. The UK has not enjoyed a widespread white Christmas for 14 years and that shows no signs of changing in 2024, according to WXCharts. But one area of Scotland will see snow on December 25, at least according to the early predictions. It shows snow falling in the Cairngorms region, most likely on high ground, from 6am on Christmas morning. As much as 14cm could fall in one hour in the area, which is traditionally considered the best bet for Christmas snow in the UK. According to the Met Office, a white Christmas is recorded if a single snowflake falls anywhere in the UK on December 25. If the map is correct – and much can change in the intervening period – it means an official white Christmas would be recorded.

Christmas Day Conditions

By Christmas Day, the snow is expected to hit as far south as the Midlands. On Christmas Eve, 10cm of snowfall an hour is expected in the north and west of Scotland, while 1cm of snow could fall in the north west of England. An area just north of Birmingham will also see snow lie on the ground. However, early indicators of snow have been overshadowed with freezing rain and rain in North and West Yorkshire. Wales is expected to be drenched in rain, making the country barely visible on the latest weather maps, reports the Express. Cardiff could see rainfall reaching 5mm per hour, while other areas could reach 6mm. Although the South West won't experience as much rainfall as Wales, the region will still face a battering. Parts of Cornwall are expected to receive a maximum of 2mm of rain per hour. London, the South East, and the East of England are set to miss out on the upcoming snowstorm, with these regions likely to avoid the harsh Christmas weather. However, Londoners can expect a bout of rain at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Day. On Boxing Day, however, the snow will disappear across most parts, and instead there will be a 300-mile rain bomb hitting over the west coast of Scotland and the Western Isles, with rainfall also hitting south Wales, Plymouth and East Anglia. The north and west of Scotland will still have accumulated snowfall by this point, though, with the Met Office predicting that snow and sleet is “likely”, particularly on higher ground throughout this time period. However, the national forecast does not issue precise forecasts for snow more than a few days in advance.

Freezing Temperatures and Beyond

Separate cold weather maps show that on December 22, temperatures will plummet as low as -6C in Stirlingshire as a brutal Scandinavian blast grips the nation. Elsewhere, the mercury will plunge to -5C on Scotland's north coast, -4C in Inverness and -1C in Aberdeen. Further south, it will hit -4C in Edinburgh, 0C in Newcastle, -1C in the north of England and 0C in Wales. Not even the south of England will escape colder temperatures, with temperatures of 2C around London, 3C in Plymouth and highs of 5C in East Anglia. In its long-range forecast for the hours immediately before Christmas and heading into the New Year warns that “sleet and snow” is expected at times, with a “risk of frost and fog”. It reads: “Mainly unsettled conditions appear likely for most, with spells of wind and rain followed by showers affecting most areas but especially the north and northwest of the UK. Some sleet and snow is also likely at times, especially on high ground in the north. However, there are also some signs that more settled conditions are possible at times, these perhaps most likely across the south late in December or into early January. Temperatures are likely to be around average overall, with any more settled interludes bringing a risk of frost and fog.” Bookmakers Coral has cut the odds to 6-4 (from 2-1) on this month ending as the coldest December on record in the UK, with temperatures set to fall over the next couple of days across the country. It is also 1-2 for a white Christmas in the UK. Spokesman John Hill said: “With temperatures set to drop once again this week, and parts of the UK forecast to get a blanket of snow, we have slashed the odds on this month ending as the coldest December since records began.” “Plummeting temperatures also raise the prospects of a White Christmas this year. We make it odds-on for now to fall on a major city in the UK on Christmas Day this year.”

A Festive Forecast Finale: What to Expect

The week leading up to Christmas will see a mix of conditions across the UK. For this week, the Met Office said from tonight: “Staying mostly cloudy across central and southern areas with scattered showers, these most frequent towards the southeast. Breezy too, especially along coastal stretches. Fog and frost developing under the clearest skies in the north.” “On Tuesday, showers becoming confined to the far south and remaining cloudy. Frost and fog persisting through the morning across Northern Ireland and Scotland but sunny elsewhere.” The overall picture is one of uncertainty, with the potential for a truly memorable, snowy Christmas in some areas and milder, wetter conditions in others. While the prospect of a white Christmas is exciting, it’s crucial to remain prepared for various weather scenarios, including the possibility of dangerous ice and hazardous driving conditions. The latest forecasts should be monitored closely in the coming days for more precise predictions for your location.