- News
- UK
- Home News
The Met Office said a single snowflake has to be observed falling on Christmas Day anywhere in the UK for it to be called a ‘white Christmas’
Shaheena UddinTuesday 25 November 2025 14:41 GMTComments
CloseSnow blankets northern England as amber warning issued across UK
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world
Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email
Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email
Email*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice
It’s that time of year again when the weather is getting colder, the knitted jumpers are coming out, and the nation is dreaming about a ‘white Christmas’.
Last week, there was snow across parts of the UK with as much as 25cm of snowfall and an amber weather warning on Thursday in some regions.
But according to the Met Office, the UK may have to wait a little longer to see more snow this winter, and the possibility of a potential ‘white Christmas’ remains open.
The forecaster told The Independent: “There’s no significant snow in the current forecast period, with a mild westerly regime in charge bringing a mixture of sunny spells and periods of rain through this week.
“There’s a chance of a bit of sleet over the tops of mountains in Scotland later in the week, but there’s no signal of snow to lower levels in the current forecast.”
open image in galleryLast week, there was snow across parts of the UK with as much as 25cm of snowfall (PA Wire)The Met Office, in its long-range forecast, reported that "changeable and unsettled conditions are expected across the UK” from this Saturday to Monday 8 December.
“Low pressure systems will tend to dominate meaning showers or longer spells of rain for much of the UK, though there will likely be some brief settled interludes,” it said.
“Some heavy rain or showers are expected, most often in the West, although with a risk some of this could spread to other areas at times. Snow will probably be confined to high ground in the North.
“Periods of strong wind are possible, especially around coasts and if any deep areas of low pressure form in the vicinity of the UK. Some short-lived spells of drier weather are possible, particularly in the South East. Temperatures will likely be close to average or slightly above overall.”
Will it be a ‘white Christmas’?
The Met Office told The Independent: “It’s too early to speculate if we’ll see a white Christmas this year.”
It’s not until the week before Christmas that forecasters usually start to have a clear idea about the chances of seeing any flurries on the big day.
open image in galleryTo qualify as a ‘white Christmas’, the Met Office said a single snowflake has to be observed falling in the 24 hours of Christmas Day anywhere in the UK (Getty Images)To qualify as a ‘white Christmas’, the Met Office said a single snowflake has to be observed falling in the 24 hours of Christmas Day anywhere in the UK.
Last year, the Met Office predicted a “grey Christmas” with patches of rain and cloud, coupled with mild temperatures.
The last time there was technically a ‘white Christmas’ in the UK was in 2023, when 11 per cent of weather stations recorded snow falling, but none reported any settled snow on the ground.
The last time there was widespread settled snow on Christmas was back in 2010, which was the highest on record with 83 per cent of stations recording snow on the ground.
More than half of all Christmas Days since 1960 have been considered a ‘white Christmas’, as around half of the years have seen at least 5 per cent of the station networks reporting snow falling on the big day.
However, the chances of the snow actually settling are slim, and the phenomenon has only occurred four times in 1981, 1995, 2009 and 2010.
More about
White ChristmasSnowMet OfficesnowfallJoin our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
