Will we have a white Christmas in 2023? Latest snow odds for the UK | UK News

That festive feeling is in full swing and with the UK in the middle of a cold snap everyone is wondering one thing – will we have a white Christmas?

Temperatures have dropped to as low as -7 degrees over the weekend, and there has already been talk of snow on December 25.

Having some of the white stuff outside as you open your presents is something that Britons see as the perfect way to get in the festive spirit.

From movies and songs to cards and decorations, Britons have associated snow with yuletide joy ever since Charles Dickens first popularised the idea in the Victorian period.

The definition of a white Christmas has changed, from snowfall at the Met Office’s London building, to a flake seen to fall in the 24 hours of December 25 somewhere in the UK.

So, will we see some snowflakes fall or lay on the ground this December 25?

Metro.co.uk is here to bring you the latest on whether there will actually be snow this Christmas…

What are the latest UK white Christmas odds?

The bookies are very optimistic that the cold weather of late will continue into December, and according to Ladbrokes the odds of snow falling anywhere in the UK on Christmas Day is down to 10/1.

It also currently has the odds of snow to fall in the UK capital at 8/1.

However, the odds for Christmas snow further north in Newcastle is 2/1 and in Edinburgh, it is 6/4.

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: ‘We’re wrapping up and strapping in for snow, with the latest odds suggesting a White Christmas will be on the cards.’

How likely is a white Christmas?

The Met Office can accurately forecast whether snow is likely on any given Christmas Day up to five days beforehand.

Currently, their long-range forecast (from Monday, December 11 to Monday, December 25) suggests it is very likely to be a white Christmas.

The forecast reads: ‘Conditions are most likely to be changeable through this period.

‘Wetter and windier than average conditions are slightly more likely than normal, especially in the west and northwest.

‘Temperatures are most likely to be near or above average overall, although this doesn’t rule out some spells of cold weather and associated wintry hazards.’

Around half of the years since 1960 have seen at least 5% of the network of locations recording snow on Christmas Day.

Widespread snow is much rarer – there has only been a widespread covering of snow on the ground recorded at 40% of weather stations in the UK four times in the last 51 years: in 1981, 1995, 2009, and 2010.

According to the Met Office’s definition, it is a White Christmas if one snowflake falls in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK.

While the national forecaster says the most accurate forecast for a White Christmas can be given between December 20 and 25, its long-range forecast now covers the big day.

What counts as a white Christmas?

When most people think of a white Christmas, they picture blankets of snow covering hillsides for miles around.

In fact, Christmas can be white if at least one solitary snowflake falls in a specific location during the 24 hours of Christmas Day, according to the Met Office.

Traditionally the Met Office used its building in London to decide whether it had been a white Christmas.

However, as betting increased, several other locations were added to the list. These include:

• Buckingham Palace
• Belfast (Aldergrove Airport)
• Aberdeen (Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen FC)
• Edinburgh (Castle),
• Coronation Street in Manchester
• The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff

When was the last white Christmas?

Technically, 2022 was the last white Christmas in the UK with 9% of stations recording snow falling, although none reported any snow lying on the ground.

Before that, 2021 and 2020 were also white Christmases, with 6% of weather stations recording snow falling in both years – but less than 1% of stations reported any snow lying on the ground in 2021 and only 4% in 2020.

There was no record of snow falling at any station in the UK in 2018, or in 2019.

The last widespread white Christmas in the UK was in 2010. It was extremely unusual, as not only was there snow on the ground at 83% of stations (the highest amount ever recorded) but snow or sleet also fell at 19% of stations.

We also had a white Christmas in 2009, when 13% of stations recorded snow or sleet falling, and 57% reported snow lying on the ground.

MORE : When was the last white Christmas in London?

MORE : November set to come to very chilly end with sleet and snow likely

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Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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