Image source, Getty Images
BySarah Keith-Lucas
Lead Weather Presenter
As the big day draws ever closer, some of us might start to hope – or dream – of seeing some Christmas snowfall.
Christmas cards often depict scenes blanketed in snow. While this is a rare sight in much of the UK, a ‘white Christmas’ is more common than you might think.
Since the turn of the century, more than half of all Christmas Days in the UK have seen snow falling somewhere.
So although the odds are technically stacked in favour of a white Christmas, the detailed festive forecast for this year won’t be confirmed just yet.
At this early stage what do we actually know about the chances of this Christmas being ‘white’?
What defines a ‘white Christmas’?
Image caption, In December 2010 the UK experienced very low temperatures and significant snowfalls. Lying snow was reported in many places on Christmas Day
For a Christmas to be officially considered ‘white’, the snow doesn’t need to be ‘deep and crisp and even.’
In fact just a single snowflake has to be recorded falling at any point during the 24 hours of 25 December at any of the Met Office’s network of around 300 observing stations.
The definition has changed over the years and has been broadened to include data from automated weather-recording stations as well as manned or manual sites.
Snow already lying on the ground on Christmas Day may make things look merry and bright, but it does not count under the official definition of a white Christmas.
What’s the most likely weather pattern for Christmas 2025?
Image caption, The majority of long-range forecasts suggest relatively mild,
Read More