The UK is gearing up for 48 hours of snow, with flurries expected to blanket parts of England over Christmas Day and Boxing Day, according to recent snow maps. These maps from WX Charts, based on data from the Met Office, highlight snowfall across Kent, Suffolk, and areas further north, including the Pennines. The South West and North West of England could also see significant snow, according to the advanced weather modelling.
Counties likely to experience snow between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day include Kent, Suffolk, Devon, Northumberland, County Durham, Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Cumbria as per the Global Forecast System (GFS) model.
The Met Office’s forecast, covering December 22 through to the New Year, details ongoing unsettled conditions initially, with low pressure expected to linger southwest of the UK. Meanwhile, high pressure is predicted to build to the northeast, causing an easterly airflow to dominate in the coming week. This shift will limit rain and showers mostly to southern and southwestern regions.
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As high pressure becomes more established, drier and more settled weather is anticipated, though isolated showers—some potentially wintry—may occur in eastern areas. Temperatures are set to drop, reaching average or slightly below average levels for many parts of the country. Overnight frost, fog, or freezing fog could become more common, though severe cold snaps are unlikely at this time.
The BBC adds that after a period of unsettled and mild weather, conditions will turn drier and chillier heading into January. However, no extreme cold spells are forecast, and milder weather could return by mid-January. Updates later in December will provide greater clarity on the development and duration of the anticipated high-pressure system near the UK, as well as forecasts extending beyond mid-January.