Hoping snow will be falling all around you this festive season? look no further as we put together the latest odds on a White Christmas in Britain.
Winter will officially arrive in the UK on Saturday, 21 December 2024. However, with that being said, we don’t know about our festive friends, but we feel the temperatures have already plummeted!
The BIG FREEZE is on its way…or is it? According to weather forecasters, the UK is set for a colder-than-usual Winter in the next month. Could this mean snow blanketing the nation beyond Christmas and into 2025, could we be guaranteed a white Christmas?

It looks like the UK might just get an early sprinkle of holiday magic this October! Forecasters are hinting that some light snow could dust the Scottish Highlands, the Lake District, and parts of Wales between October 10 and 11. It’s all thanks to a chilly gust rolling in behind the remnants of Hurricane Kirk. While it may not be a winter wonderland just yet, it’s the perfect hint of Christmas
According to UK forecasters, Britain is set for heavy snowfall, winds and hailstones starting from mid-October but will snowfall on Christmas day?! – we hope so!
Odds for a white Christmas in the UK for 2024 from William Hill:
Edinburgh (Airport) – 11/10
Aberdeen (Airport) – 11/10
Glasgow (Airport) – 6/5
Newcastle (Airport) – 15/8
Leeds (Leeds-Bradford Airport) – 2/1
Manchester (Airport) – 11/4
Belfast (Airport) – 4/1
Birmingham (Airport) – 5/1
Dublin (Airport) – 6/1
Liverpool (Airport) – 6/1
London (City Airport) – 6/1
Bristol (Airport) – 7/1
Cardiff (Airport) – 15/2
UK Snow Fact – Did you know the deepest snow ever recorded in an inhabited area of the UK was near Ruthin in North Wales during the severe Winter of 1946-47. In March 1947 a snow depth of 1.65 metres was recorded.
What are the rules for an official White Christmas?
The Met Office rule for an official white Christmas is that “one snowflake (must) be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK”.
When was the last snowfall on Christmas Day in the UK?
There’s nothing quite like the magic of waking up to snow on Christmas morning in the UK! While it’s been a rarity, the last widespread snowfall on Christmas Day happened back in 2010, blanketing the landscape in festive white.
The excitement of seeing fresh snow as your Christmas tree sparkles nearby, with family gathered around, adds an extra layer of joy. Kids rush to make snowmen, and everyone bundles up to play, savouring the wintry wonderland that perfectly complements the holiday spirit.
A spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “Will it be this year? A white Christmas is always on people’s minds in the build-up to the big day and this year we think residents in Edinburgh and Aberdeen have a strong chance at 11/10 of waking up to a snowy scene on Christmas Day, while Glasgow could also get a dump of snow at 6/5. For those south of the border, Geordies might be celebrating on the 25th at 15/8 for snow to fall in Newcastle, with Leeds next most likely at 2/1. 1999 was the last time London had a white Christmas and we give the capital an outside chance at 6/1 of another 25 years on.”
Bing Crosby isn’t the only one dreaming of it!