White Christmas hopes are rising as December kicks off, following a cold spell and snowfall in late November that has set the stage for a potentially festive season. Last month saw temperatures plummet to freezing levels, with snow blanketing parts of Wales, northern England, and Scotland, hinting at what might be in store for the winter. Although the extreme cold has eased slightly in early December, forecasts indicate a return to sub-zero temperatures as soon as this Friday.
The likelihood of a white Christmas increases as temperatures drop, according to current odds that suggest a higher chance of the traditional snowy holiday. While the phrase “white Christmas” evokes images of snow-covered scenes and festive lights twinkling, the actual criteria for this designation are more straightforward, requiring just a single snowflake observed falling on December 25th.
In the UK, snowfall on Christmas Day is not uncommon, occurring every year since 2020, except for 2024. However, these snowflakes often do not accumulate significantly. A widespread white Christmas, where snow covers a larger area, is much rarer, with the last notable occurrence in 2010 when a substantial portion of weather stations reported snow settling on the ground.
Predicting a white Christmas this year remains uncertain, as the weather outlook beyond a few days is challenging to forecast accurately. Despite the uncertainties, bookmakers like Coral have already set odds for a white Christmas, with snowfall considered a strong possibility. Coral’s spokesperson, John Hill, noted the increasing interest and bets on the likelihood of a white Christmas this year.