More snow could fall across the UK before the end of December, with advanced weather modelling maps showing flurries could hit major cities over a 12-hour period
Snow is expected to start falling at midnight on Christmas Day(Image: WXCharts)
Snow looks to be on the cards later this month as advanced weather modelling maps show a 12-hour blizzard could strike.
The GFS weather model suggests Boxing Day could bring wintry conditions to millions, with intense snow expected to start falling in Northern Ireland and Ireland at around midnight on Christmas Day.
Rain also looks likely as the weather front sweeps across the country from the Atlantic. By 3am on Boxing Day, the maps show snow falling in the Peak District, the north-west of England and around Queen Elizabeth Forest Park in Scotland.
Flurries could come down in North Wales as well as the Pennines and southern Scotland at around 6am, with the Galloway Forest Park area facing particularly intense snow around this time.
Snow moving across the UK and Ireland at 3am on Boxing Day(Image: WXCharts)READ MORE: Christmas Day snow forecast maps reveal major flurries hitting UK on December 25READ MORE: UK snow maps show England to be hit on Christmas Day – nine counties affected
Manchester and areas just north of the city could see snow at around 9am. Glasgow could also be in the firing line as the wintry weather spreads across Scotland.
Snow coverage maps for midday on Boxing Day reveal the full extent of this Arctic blast, with snow settled on the ground in western parts of Northern Ireland, North Wales, northern parts of England and a significant chunk of Scotland.
Snow hitting southern Scotland at around 6am on Boxing Day(Image: WXCharts)
The Met Office says it expects any snow to be confined to higher ground later this month. Its forecast for December 26 to January 9 states: “High pressure will probably become more influential across the UK during this period.
“This means an increasing incidence of dry weather compared to the winter so far, especially in the south. Spells of rain and strong winds remain possible, there most likely in the north. Snow will probably be confined to higher ground in the north. Temperatures are expected to be close to normal.”
More snow could come down at 9am on Boxing Day(Image: WXCharts)
BBC Weather says for December 22 to January 4: “There is more uncertainty in the forecast throughout the Christmas period and into the first week of the New Year. The positive NAO pattern could weaken, and high pressure might start to have more of an influence by the end of December. As a result, there could be less rain, especially in southern and eastern areas of the UK. It should still be wet and windy at times, mainly across northern and western regions.
“Although temperatures should be near to or above average, they could be lower than the preceding couple of weeks, with more chance of frosty nights. Any snow should still be confined to higher elevations in the north.
Snow coverage (in purple) at midday on Boxing Day(Image: WXCharts)
“By the New Year and into early January there are signs that high pressure will take more of a hold around north-western Europe, which should keep Atlantic weather systems at bay and lead to higher chances of drier and calmer periods.
“Temperatures will depend to an extent on the exact alignment of this possible high pressure but it looks like it should turn chillier, with temperatures closer to the seasonal average overall and more chance of frosty and foggy nights. If high pressure were to build more towards Iceland and Greenland then colder risks might come into play.”
