UK snow forecast: 'Icelandic low' set to be 'displaced' with parts of Britain in line for White Christmas

NetWeather is forecasting an "Icelandic low" hitting parts of the UK, with colder north-westerlies likely in the North of England and Scotland.

Parts of the south are set to be more mild throughout the Christmas period.

A spokesperson from NetWeather said: "The weather is expected to turn more unsettled during this period with a mainly westerly flow, and the Icelandic low displaced to the east of its normal position with lowest pressure generally between Iceland and Scandinavia.

"It will be generally mild in the south, but some colder north-westerlies are likely in the north.

"While a widespread white Christmas is currently looking unlikely, there is potential for northern parts to have some snow on Christmas Day if Christmas Day coincides with one of the colder north-westerly outbreaks.

"It is expected to be warmer than average in the south, probably by 1 to 2C in southern England, but temperatures are likely to be close to normal in most parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, and possibly into northern England."

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The Met Office considers it a White Christmas if a single snowflake falling in the UK in the 24 hours of December 25.

In 2022, nine per cent of weather stations recorded snow falling but none saw snow settling.

A spokesperson from the meteorological outlet added: "It is likely to be wetter than average for most during this period, with the exception of some sheltered North Sea coastal areas, where precipitation totals may be close to or slightly below normal.

"Sunshine totals are likely to be near to slightly above average in most western areas and well above average in the east, due to a high frequency of bright and showery days via polar maritime air masses."

Bookmaker Ladbrokes today made Edinburgh the likeliest city to have a white Christmas at their airport at 2/1, followed by Newcastle at 5/2 and Belfast at 3/1.

Manchester was coming in to 5/1 with Liverpool at 6/1 and Birmingham at 7/1.

Cardiff, Dublin and London City all came in at 8/1.

There have been only four years when at least 40 per cent of Met Office weather stations reported snow on the ground at 9am on December 25 since 1960, those being 1981, 1995, 2009 and 2010.