Temperatures are set to plummet for millions of Brits this month ahead of Christmas Day, with conditions falling to 15C – as flurries of snow are forecast for some places
Brits looking forward to a White Christmas can also look forward to flurries hours before the big day – but temperatures will fall too.
Early maps have shown several locations in the UK could experience the wintry conditions. Major cities including Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh could have snow in and around December 25.
Now the Met Office ’s long range forecast – covering December 24 to the beginning of January – has revealed some places can expect snow and sleet. 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 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.”
Another map has shown temperatures could fall as low as -5C, bringing the possibility of dangerous ice for people out driving over the holiday season. This includes Ireland, Northern Ireland, huge swathes of Scotland and Northern England. However, some people can look forward to a 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.
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.”
Meanwhile, bookies 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.”
