Snow could be falling again in just a matter of days as chilly conditions return, according to new forecasts.
While temperatures have been notably mild this week, a blast of cold air moving down from the Arctic over the Christmas period is set to bring the mercury back down towards freezing in many parts of the UK next week.
Weather radar maps from WXCharts show a wave of heavy snow progressing across Scotland and the English border regions from the early hours of December 26.
Further isolated snowfall in northern areas is also likely between December 29 and New Year's Eve, according to the independent forecasting site.
Describing the atmospheric conditions resulting in the festive chill, Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: "The jet stream remains close to the UK meaning low pressures will move in from the Atlantic, orange on the map meaning fairly mild at the moment but if we run the sequence through over the next few days we might see some colder air trying to push down from the north.
"This may introduce some colder air across central parts and northern parts as we enter the Christmas weekend."
Expert opinion has however been turning against the likelihood of a widespread 'white Christmas', with Dr Peter Inness of the University of Reading’s Meteorology Department saying temperatures will "staying warmer" in the run-up to the big day.
Some snow could fall in a few northern parts of Britain on Christmas Day but chances of any flakes elsewhere remains slim, he said.
UK weather forecast:
Cloudy with patchy rain in the south, brighter further north.
Today:
Dull, grey and cloudy across much of Wales and a large part of England, cloud thick enough for patchy rain at times. Brighter elsewhere, but also a few showers, mainly northern Scotland where breezy with wintry showers.
Tonight:
Much of England and Wales cloudy with heavy rain over parts of Wales and southwest England later. Some fog about, mainly northern England and Northern Ireland. Wintry showers far north.
Friday:
Early rain over Wales and southwest England spreads northeastwards reaching southern Scotland during the afternoon. Brighter weather and showers follow into the southwest later. Windy. Cold in the far north.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Cloudy and windy with showers or longer spells of rain this weekend, with a change to colder conditions later on Sunday and into Monday with wintry showers in the north.
