2 weeks Ago By Claire Schofield
As many as nine UK areas, including England, Scotland and Wales, are set for a white Christmas this year, with Arctic flurries expected from as early as December 20. Weather maps from WXCharts, which use Metdesk data, show dashings of snow across the entirety of Scotland on December 25, with Inverness in the northwest of the country getting the heaviest bout. Northern England is also forecast to see flurries in the run up to Christmas , with wintry conditions expected in areas including Newcastle, Durham, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Bradford, Leeds and York from December 20.
Some snowfall is expected in Wales later this month, with flurries shown on the map around the capital of Cardiff and some parts of north Wales. Betting company Betsson has analysed historical data from 2000 to 2021 to reveal the UK cities most likely to see a white Christmas this year, with Aberdeen in Scotland tipped to get the most snow. Yorkshire’s Ripon and Bradford follow closely behind, along with Leicester, York and Newcastle.
Betsson said: “Aberdeen is the city most likely to see snow on Christmas with a White Christmas Score of 9.68/10, making it the UK’s snowiest city this festive season. Known for its frosty winters, Aberdeen enjoys an average of 3.
36 snow days each December—36% more than Ripon, which ranks second with 2.14 days. The city also boasts an impressive average snow depth of 5.
28 cm on Christmas Day, the third highest in the rankings. “Historically, 13.64% of Aberdeen’s Christmases have been snowy, 5% higher than its closest rivals, Ripon and Bradford (both at 9.
09%). Aberdeen’s chilly climate and proximity to the snow-prone Scottish Highlands make it the ultimate destination for a picture-perfect white Christmas this year.” But other areas in the UK look set for a very wet and windy Christmas, with the Met Office forecasting unsettled conditions for most over the festive period.
In its long-range forecast, from December 24 to January 7, the Met Office said: “Mainly unsettled conditions appear likely for most, with spells of wind and rain followed by showers affecting most areas but especially the north and northwest of the UK. “Some sleet and snow is also likely at times, especially on high ground in the north. However, there are also some signs that more settled conditions are possible at times, these perhaps most likely across the south late in December or into early January.
“Temperatures are likely to be around average overall, with any more settled interludes bringing a risk of frost and fog.”.
