This is how likely we will be to get a white Christmas this year, according to the Met Office

Christmas and snow go hand in hand, with movies and cards all filled with scenes of a white Christmas – but how likely is it that we will get one this year?
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Despite the link, for most parts of the UK, Christmas is only at the beginning of the period when it’s likely to snow, meaning there is a bigger chance of snow between January and March rather than December.

According to the Met Office, snow or sleet falls on average for 3.9 days in December, compared to 5.3 in January, 5.6 in February and 4.2 days in March.

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The last widespread white Christmas in the UK was back in 2010 – with Met Office forecasters claiming that it was “extremely unusual” as climate changes brings higher temperatures, reducing the chances of a white Christmas.

The last widespread white Christmas was back in 2010.The last widespread white Christmas was back in 2010.
The last widespread white Christmas was back in 2010.

So, how likely is it we will get snow this Christmas?

The Met Office say that they cannot accurately forecast snow until at least five days before Christmas Day – meaning it will be Sunday, December 20 at the very earliest to see if there is a chance of snow.

The Met Office website reads: “Since 1960, around half of the years have seen at least five per cent of the network record snow falling on Christmas Day.

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"However, the Dickensian scene of widespread snow lying on the ground on Christmas Day is much rarer.

"There has only been a widespread covering of snow on the ground four times since 1960, in 1981, 1995, 2009 and 2010."

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