Scotland could see a white Christmas for the first time in years as flurries are expected to fall for three days over the festive period.
The Met Office has released its Christmas Day weather forecast, unveiling all the places in the UK which might get lucky with snow on December 25.
From Thursday until Saturday unsettled weather could bring some sleet, snow and ice over higher ground.
Cold northerly winds will blow across Scotland on Christmas Eve, with the chance of blizzards meaning many may wake up to a flurries and a dusting of snow on the big day.
The Met Office says the 'key uncertainty' for Christmas Day is where the boundary between cold and milder air will meet and therefore where the greater chances of any snow are.
Where will snow fall on Christmas Day?
On Christmas Day, the Met Office says snow is due to fall in:
- Scotland
- The far north of England
- Northern Ireland
According to the latest forecast, high ground in the north of Scotland is the most likely place to see snow.
The last widespread white Christmas in the UK was in 2010, which was extremely unusual as the UK is more likely to see snow between January and March than in December.
Deputy Chief meteorologist, Helen Caughey, said: “After a relatively benign start to the week, the forecast turns more unsettled and finely balanced as we approach Christmas.
"With colder air meeting milder air over the UK, the specific details of the forecast for Christmas day are still a little uncertain.
“Milder air moves northeast over much of the country by the middle of the week, with spells of rain for most at times, which will turn to snow over higher ground in northern Scotland initially.
"The boundary between the milder and colder air is then forecast to sink south later on Christmas Eve and through Christmas Day, introducing colder, clearer conditions for some.
"However exactly where this boundary gets to is hard to pin down at the moment, and is key as to where can expect any snow over Christmas, so keep up to date with the forecast for the latest information as we move through the week”.
What is a White Christmas?
The definition that the Met Office uses to define a white Christmas is for one snowflake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK.
The number of locations have increased and can now include sites such as Buckingham Palace, Belfast (Aldergrove Airport), Aberdeen (Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen FC), Edinburgh (Castle), Coronation Street in Manchester and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Technically, 2020 was the last white Christmas in the UK. However, only 4% of stations reported any snow lying on the ground.
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