British weather has been subject to the tumult of climate change and, with warmer-than-average temperatures all year round, snowy winters have become rarer.
A “white Christmas”, which the Met Office broadly defines as one snowflake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of December 25, somewhere in the UK, may be on the cards. But a single drop of snow may not be enough to bring back this phenomenon, more common in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The last time Britain saw the classic scene of snow-covered pavements was in 2010 – and, before that, only three times since 1960.
In 2010, the unexpected snowfall was the highest ever recorded - and covered more than 80 per cent of stations, including Buckingham Palace, Belfast (Aldergrove Airport), Aberdeen (Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen FC), Edinburgh (Castle), Coronation Street in Manchester, and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
The year before also saw 57 per cent of stations report snow on the ground, with 13 per cent seeing snow or sleet falling.
Will England have a white Christmas in 2022?
According to the Met Office, a snowy Christmas is not likely following the higher temperatures in autumn this year.
December is forecasted to see the beginning of the cold hitting the south of England, as the probability of snow falls more heavily around January and March than at the end of 2022.
Snow or sleet will fall an average four days in December, compared to five days in January and February - and four days in March.
The five days leading up to Christmas are crucial for the most accurate prediction for the holiday itself, the Met Office said.
Technically, last year saw snowfall, but with the official definition being so limited, it may be some time before we see a Crosby-grade white Christmas.
