Will it be a white Christmas in the UK this year and when did it happen last time?

Here's the latest on what is forecast for the festive weather.

When was the UK's last white Christmas?

At least one snowflake has to fall somewhere in the UK on December 25 for it to be classed as a white Christmas.

Snow that has fallen before the big day and is still on the ground may look pretty – but it won't count with the bookies.

Our last white Christmas was in 2010, when snow or sleet fell at 83 per cent of stations, according to the Met Office.

What are the odds of snow falling on this year's Christmas Day?

At least one snowflake has fallen on Christmas Day 38 times in the last 55 years.

This means, statistically, we can expect to see a white Christmas at least once every two years.

But the Christmas of our imaginations, where there are layers of snow covering the ground, is much rarer.

The Met Office says it's difficult to accurately predict snow until five days beforehand.

Snow and ice has been predicted for many places before Christmas Day.

But Brits dreaming of a white Christmas are likely to be disappointed because predicted milder temperatures should dash any hopes of snow.

However, bookies have slashed odds on snow falling in the UK on December 25.

Aberdeen is most likely to get some snowfall – rated by Ladbrokes at 6/5, down from 5/4 – while the odds on a white Christmas in London have fallen from 5/1 to 9/2.

ODDS ON A WHITE CHRISTMAS

Aberdeen – 6/5 (was 5/4)
Edinburgh – 6/4 (was 2/1)
Glasgow – 6/4 (was 2/1)
Newcastle – 9/4 (was 5/2)
Belfast – 3/1 (was 4/1)
Liverpool – 7/2 (was 4/1)
Manchester – 7/2 (was 4/1)
Birmingham – 4/1 (was 5/1)
Bristol – 9/2 (was 5/1)
Cardiff – 9/2 (was 5/1)
Dublin – 9/2 (was 5/1)
Leeds – 9/2 (was 5/1)
London – 9/2 (was 5/1)

(Ladbrokes latest betting)

December has also prompted a flurry of bets from punters for a white Christmas this year, with Coral making it odds on to happen anywhere in the UK at odds of 1/2.

Coral’s Harry Aitkenhead: “Every year we see a rush of punters betting on there to be snow on Christmas Day.

“They’re clearly dreaming of a White Christmas and our odds show that there’s a good chance of it happening somewhere in the UK this year, with Aberdeen the most likely of the major cities.”

The bookies' optimism is shared by Brian Gaze, director and forecaster for The Weather Outlook.

He told The Sun Online: “Long range forecasting in the UK is always a very uncertain business, but there are some signs that high pressure areas will continue to cut off the mild Atlantic flow at times in the coming months.

“That would increase the chance of cold spells and possibly snow during the Christmas period.



 

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