Met Office forecasts ‘increased chance’ of snow for late December into New Year

The Met Office predicts snow could be on the way to the UK for Christmas and the New Year.

In its long range weather forecast, the national weather service predicted that some parts of the UK could be in for another dusting of snow towards the end of the month.

Forecasters have said the week leading up to Christmas will see the potential for high pressure moving west into the Atlantic, bringing unsettled conditions and typically nearer average temperatures across the UK.

The Met Office also said there will be potential for short-lived interludes of cold snaps during periods of north or north-westerly winds.

After Christmas Day, the agency said unsettled conditions are likely to continue with bands of rain moving across the UK on Boxing Day, with the worst conditions expected to hit the North West.

Looking ahead towards the end of December, the forecast reads: “The chance of a colder spell of weather, with hazards such as snow and ice, does increase later in December and into the New Year period. 

“However, on balance conditions are most likely to remain generally mild and wetter than average.”

This week, the UK has been hit by Storm Elin and Storm Fergus, with flood warnings issued for parts of the UK and a yellow weather warning currently in place.

The wet and windy weather is expected to last into the middle of the week but from Thursday, most of the country will see drier and brighter weather with slightly above average temperatures for this time of year.

Met Office meteorologist, Marco Petagna, said: “Monday looks like a better day for most areas; there will be some patchy rain across the northeast of Scotland, but other than that it looks mostly dry with bright sunny spells and lighter winds. 

“But wet and windy weather will come in on Monday night, pushing east into Tuesday.”