Waking up to a blanket of snow and falling flakes on Christmas Day is more likely to conjure up a scene from a Dickens novel than any recent Christmas celebrated in the UK.
Nevertheless we still hold out hope this year will mean a White Christmas, completing the greetings card scene we have been imagining when looking forward to the big day.
Some forecasters have predicted a very cold winter for the South West, the coldest for 50 years in fact. Our sister paper, Devon Live, has asked the Met Office if that means there is a chance of snow this December.
Although a detailed weather forecast can only be published five days in advance, today is the first time Christmas Day has made it into the long range forecast this year.
The forecast released on Monday morning reads: "The period is likely to begin on the cold side for most regions, with wintry showers at times in the north, and perhaps over high ground in the south.
"Widespread frosts and ice are also likely. There looks to be a change around mid-month to milder conditions, although the timing is very uncertain.
"This change looks likely to bring milder and wetter conditions across most parts of the UK, allowing temperatures to recover to around average, or perhaps slightly above.
"The wettest conditions are likely to be in the north and west, with an increased likelihood of drier spells in the south and southeast. Colder interludes are still possible, mainly in the north.
Bookmakers have released their latest odds on it being a White Christmas.
A Ladbrokes spokesman said: "Generally the odds will be around the 5/1 or 11/2 mark.
For the latest news in and around Bristol, visit and bookmark Bristol Live's homepage.
