20 December 2023

Will it be a White Christmas?

The Met Office’s definition of a White Christmas is when at least one snowflake is officially recorded anywhere in the UK, within the 24 hour period of Christmas Day. Over the past 60 years, around half have had snowflakes recorded on Christmas Day and the last 3 years have all had White Christmas’s, so it is actually a common occurrence!

Now most people would define a White Christmas by snow laying on the ground. Of the Met Office’s network of stations, there have only been 4 years since 1960 where 40% or more, of the stations recorded lying snow. These were 1981, 1995, 2009 and 2010. The latter and most recent one will be etched into the brains of meteorologists forever – the ‘December to Remember’ of 2010. On Christmas Day 2010, lying snow was recorded on 83% of stations, the highest amount of stations ever recorded.

christmas-picture

What will it be this year? The current forecasts are showing some colder air arriving on the night of Christmas Eve in Scotland, before spreading further South on Christmas Day. Northerly winds could bring some wintry showers to the high ground of Scotland, and along the East Coast of the UK but should turn to rain towards lower levels. I think it is a good bet that we will have a White Christmas this year based on the Met Office’s definition, but in terms of snow on the ground UK wide, that is looking unlikely! Make sure you follow Ice Watch for any further updates.

We are proud to serve our customers and communities with our reliable and professional gritting and snow clearing services. Want to know more about how we can help you? Check out our services here.

Latest news

Motherwell Shopping Centre - Snow Clearence 02.12.2023
Why business winter maintenance plans are crucial; not only for your people, but your revenue too!

Whatever the weather or season, businesses across the UK must turn their attention to the challenges brought on by colder weather. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures can create hazardous conditions, not just for the public but within the workplace as well. Implementing a winter maintenance plan is not just a precaution; it’s a planned action that can safeguard employees, customers, and the business itself.

Read more
Saharan-Dust-small
Saharan Dust: What it is and how it impacts the UK

Have you ever wondered why the sky sometimes looks orange or red in the UK? It might be because of Saharan Dust, a natural phenomenon that brings sand and dust from Africa to Europe. Read more to learn what Saharan Dust is, how it travels, and how it affects the weather and the sky in the UK.

Read more
Molson Coors
Air Masses: The Origins and Characteristics of Large Bodies of Air

Volumes of air, called Air Masses, influence the UK’s weather. They are categorised by the location that they originated. Read more

Read more
Freezing,Mist,Rolls,Across,The,Countryside,Landscape
What is Air Pressure?

Air pressure is a force that is exerted on the Earth’s surface by the atmosphere.

Read more
clcoks-go-back-autumn-banner
How Benjamim Franklin, Golf and Coldplay link to British Summer Time

Clocks ‘spring forward’ at 1am on the last Sunday in March and ‘fall back’ at 2am on the last Sunday in October. This year, clocks will go back on Sunday 29th October and we will then revert to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) for the winter months.

Read more
snowy-UK-houses
Top tips for staying safe in winter

Now it’s officially Autumn with Winter around the corner, we thought we’d share our tips for staying safe when Winter arrives.

Read more
More news