Met Office new weather forecast names 15 dates snow could fall in December and January | Weather | News
A new forecast has predicted that the New Year could arrive with a blanket of snow, as the Met Office’s latest long-term forecast predicts temperatures could soon start to fall, with showers likely. While the first half of December has been wet, mild and extremely unstable, the Christmas period looks set to change all that as a new weather system brings down cold air from the North Pole, making Christmas feel particularly mild.
Its forecast said: “There are signs that conditions may become less deteriorating towards the Christmas period; the potential for high pressure to build will bring drier conditions, with an increased risk of overnight frost and areas of fog.”
WX Charts’ latest models have even predicted the potential for a white Christmas, featuring showers across the UK and snowfalls from Scotland to the Home Counties.
However, looking at the period from 27 December to 10 January, the Met Office says high pressure will move over the UK, bringing an end to unstable conditions.
While this typically means drier conditions, the chance of cold winds and showers still remains, creating the perfect conditions for some snow, particularly in the uplands of the north of England and Scotland.
The agency predicted: “High pressure is likely to become more effective across the UK during this period.
“This means an increased incidence of dry weather compared to winter so far. Rain and strong winds remain possible, most likely with the risk of some snow in the north at times. Temperatures are generally expected to be close to normal.”
But forecasters warn about the changing nature of weather systems in long-range forecasts. They warn: “When looking beyond five days into the future, the chaotic nature of the atmosphere begins to come into play.
“Minor events currently occurring over the Atlantic could have potentially significant impacts on our weather conditions in the UK within a matter of days.
“So, although we can predict general weather to a relatively high level of accuracy using our ensemble models, it becomes difficult to deliver local details with as high a level of accuracy as our shorter-range forecasts.”
