UK weather forecast: Met Office predicts Christmas Day will be cold and soggy, with snow unlikely

Temperatures look like they will stay mild for this time of year

The UK could be in for cold and soggy weather on Christmas Day, the Met Office has predicted.

While temperatures look like they will stay mild for the time of year, the north and west of the country is likely to see a wet and windy Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day itself may be drier, brighter and colder, the Met Office said, followed by some rain later in the day.

“At this stage we’ve got a fairly unsettled week to come, but as we approach Christmas Eve and Christmas Day it looks like it will be drier and brighter,” Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst told The Independent.

“But there is still uncertainty and still the risk of rain at times on Christmas Day too.”

Heavy weather battered parts of the country last week and the Met Office issued a yellow warning for rain on Tuesday, along with cautions for potential flooding to homes and businesses.

It came after Storm Deirdre brought freezing rain, high winds and snow as it swept through the UK.

Although there is “quite a bit of uncertainty” for Christmas Day itself, Mr Dewhurst said: “At the moment it looks like it will be less unsettled compared to what we have been seeing over the last few days.

“There are indications Christmas Day will be a drier and brighter day with the potential for some rain.”

Bookmaker Coral issued odds of 1-4 for there to be a white Christmas with snow anywhere in the UK, and gave the chances of it being the coldest winter on record as 10-11.

Mr Dewhurst said there was “probably a low chance” of a white Christmas, adding: “But it only takes one flake to fall, so I wouldn’t rule it out yet. But at this stage, it’s looking greener than whiter.”

The Met Office said the UK last saw a widespread white Christmas in 2010, when 83 per cent of weather stations recorded snow on the ground, while 19 per cent recorded snow or sleet falling.

Technically 2015 was also a White Christmas, with 10 per cent of weather stations recording snow falling, though none reported any snow lying on the ground.

Dry and bright weather is predicted to become more likely towards the New Year, the Met Office said.