A white Christmas in the UK simply needs an observer or an automatic station to report a single snowflake falling on Christmas Day

Reports have suggested snow may be on the way - this is what the national weather forecasting agency had to say

The Met Office says it's the question asked more than any other and starts coming in October but it needs to be much closer to the big day to get the answer

A white Christmas in the UK doesn't require a thick blanket of snow. According to the Met Office, just one snowflake falling anywhere in the UK on Christmas Day counts. By that definition, 2023 was a white Christmas, with 11% of weather stations recording snowfall. However, none of it settled on the ground, so it really shouldn't count.

The Met Office has issued its latest forecast for the period leading up to and including Christmas Day - it comes as weather maps suggest several areas could get a White Christmas

The Met Office long-range forecast reads: “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.

National forecaster warns of a ‘sobering milestone’, with 2024 set to be 1.5C warmer than the pre-industrial average

Weather maps on WXCharts show snowfall across much of the north on Christmas Day, with the heaviest bouts in Scotland, including Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Wick. Snow is also forecast across much of northern England including Newcastle, Middlesbrough, York, Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Lancaster and Cumbria.

White Christmas possible as Met Office predicts snow and sleet over festive period - Snow possible for the UK over Christmas period, according to Met Office forecast