While the chances of a white Christmas are looking increasingly remote, snow could be on the way in the first days of 2026. According to new weather data from WXCharts.com, Significant snow could fall in large parts of the UK on January 2, as it approaches the country from the east.
Snow is expected to fall across Scotland and northern England from around noon, with cold temperatures likely to help the snow settle. The morning of January 3 will see below-freezing temperatures across the UK, making the likelihood of any snow settling and staying around more likely. According to WXCharts.com, areas of southern England will wake to temperatures of -3C, whilst in Scotland, this could plummet to -11C.
Data shows that snow could be as deep as six inches in some parts, particularly in the north of Scotland.
Elsewhere, snow in excess of 10mm per hour could fall in Dundee, Glasgow and Newcastle, with much of Scotland and northern England likely to be affected.
The Met Office warns that forecasting snow, especially weeks in advance, can be difficult to do, with several factors, all of which can change at short notice, required for snow to fall instead of rain.
Their long-range forecast for Thursday, December 25 to Saturday, January 3 states: “Continued mostly settled conditions expected, as high pressure builds to the north of the UK. This will bring a strengthening easterly then northeasterly wind over the period, with wind-chill making it feel colder.
“Whilst there will be a fair amount of dry weather, a few showers will still be possible, particularly across eastern and southern parts, which may be wintry in places, more especially over high ground.
“High pressure will likely dominate the weather in the run-up to the New Year, slowly drifting to the west.
“This will maintain largely settled conditions, although with an increasing chance of showery conditions later in the period.
“Temperatures will be below average much of the time, with frost likely where clear skies and light winds prevail.”
The snowy forecast will come too late for those hoping for a white Christmas, with current forecasts indicating that it is unlikely.
For the Met Office to declare a ‘white Christmas’, a single snowflake has to be observed falling on the 24 hours of 25 December, by either an official Met Office observer or by a Met Office automated weather station.
This is because it needs to be officially verified for both our climate records and to provide consistency and certainty.
The agency states that it can accurately forecast snow likelihood on any given Christmas Day up to five days in advance, with current forecasts indicating that cold temperatures and rain are more likely to occur.
