UK White Christmas formally ‘off the playing cards’ as odds of snow worsen
As Brits get their last bits in for the big day, those hoping for a snow-filled Christmas have been dealt yet another crushing blow as even bookies think it’s a non-starter
Brits looking for a White Christmas have had their hopes dashed yet again. Bookmakers have predicted that the chance of snow on the big day is so low, the odds of it happening have dropped.
With Christmas just four days away, many are rushing around getting the last vital bits they need for their festive celebrations. But whilst some have their turkey ready to go in the oven, others are wishing for a winter wonderland on December 25.
Sadly, the Met Office has poured cold water on the idea of a truly White Christmas, with the chances of a blanket of snow for the country looking “extremely low”. Now, bookies have broken their silence in another blow to many people’s wishes.
A cold snap for the Christmas period is expected, as temperatures are slowly set to fall away. However, with average temperatures expected to be sitting at around 6 or 7C, weather forecasters have said it will simply be too warm to see any snow fall.
However, a White Christmas does not need to be a full blanket of snow on the big day. Instead, one single snowflake falling across anywhere in the UK would be enough to make the festive season a true White Christmas.
Back in 2023, a number of weather stations did pick up some snow, which in part did mean it was a White Christmas for some. But the last time the UK was truly deluged by freezing weather was in 2010, when roads were iced over and some were even unable to travel due to poor conditions.
This year, however, it seems highly unlikely that Britain will be getting any of that cold snap. Now, Ladbrokes has said that the odds of any snow falling on Christmas Day have drifted to 2/1, down from evens.
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “It looks like the white Christmas dream will continue to elude us with the odds now starting to suggest it’s off the cards.” However, whilst temperatures look set to fall, conditions will brighten up over the next few days, as long sunny spells will fall across the country.
In its official Christmas forecast for the weather, the Met Office said that drier conditions will mean rain that had been pouring over parts of the country will move away. As well as this, winds will start to pick up from the east over the next few days, as cold Russian air is blown across Europe and onto the UK.
However, it will not be entirely devoid of rain, as some parts of the country may still see the odd shower, particularly in southern and eastern areas of the country. Some of these showers could turn wintry, but there is “no strong indications at this stage of any significant snowfall”.
Speaking on the weather forecast, Met Office chief Jason Kelly explained: “After a spell of unsettled and wet weather, we’re expecting a gradual shift to more settled conditions as high pressure builds into next week. This will bring drier and colder weather for many over the Christmas period, with the risk of overnight frost and fog where skies clear.
“While there will likely be some showers, more especially in eastern and southern areas, these perhaps wintry over higher ground, there are currently no strong signals for significant or widespread snowfall,” he continued. “As always, we advise everyone to keep up to date with the latest Met Office forecasts and warnings, especially if you’re making plans over the festive period.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
