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Will it be a white Christmas? The weather forecast for Leeds this weekend

Emily Sergeant - 24th December 2021

White Christmasses are so rare that they feel like something of an urban legend - we've had a few flurries here and there but a Leeds Christmas is usually just grey.

Not too long ago, the Met Office was predicting that much of the north would get a covering of snow on Christmas Day for the first time since 2010.

But as tends to be the case with the UK weather, things have changed already, and now the forecast looks a little different for the next few days.

So, what are our odds for seeing some snow on Christmas Day?

Here’s the current forecast.

According to the Met Office’s latest-published Christmas weather forecast, most of the county will experience an 'unsettled' Christmas this year, with the greatest chance of some snow coming for those over high ground in northern England and Scotland.

At present though, cloud, rain, and fog has taken charge over much of the UK.

The Met Office says that spells of rain will push towards the North East, bringing 'an unsettled spell of weather' that will continue through the Christmas period, and as the initial band of rain bumps into colder air over higher Northern ground and over Scotland, there will be a wintry mix of rain, sleet, and snow in some areas.

And today will see further showery rain moving north-eastwards across the UK, with colder and drier conditions over the North and Scotland.

Christmas Day

On Christmas Day itself, much of the UK will sadly see continued rain.

However, according to the Met Office, further North – where “the boundary between milder and colder air is” – there is a chance of some snow, again, primarily over high ground.

While this exact location is still uncertain, however, forecasters are saying it is possible that the Peak District, Pennine areas, and then the Southern Uplands later are “the most likely” to see snow.

In Leeds, it's currently forecast to be a chilly and overcast day, with highs of 4C and lows of 2C.

It'll feel even nippier though - the Met Office says it will feel as cold as -2C in the evening thanks to a brisk southeasterly breeze.

We may get some sunny spells throughout the day.

Read more: The must-visit magical Narnia Christmas wonderland in Yorkshire

“The Christmas period will be a fairly unsettled spell across the UK this year,” explained Chris Bulmer, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office.

"Many will see wet and cloudy conditions as mild air dominates over the South and West of the UK.

"Where this mild air meets colder air trying to sink South, there is a chance of some Christmas snow, this looking most likely over the Pennines, however exactly where this boundary will be is still uncertain.

“In the far North, cold conditions and clearer skies will bring a more wintry feel [and] for many areas, a brisk easterly wind will bring a notable wind chill.”

Looking Ahead

It will be a wet start to Boxing Day in Leeds, with a 90% chance of rain forecast in the morning.

That's meant to calm down to drizzle by lunchtime, and temperatures still won't climb any higher than 4C.

The Met Office is unfortunately predicting that the forecast out towards New Year also looks to remain unsettled.

Mild air from the South West will bring wet and at times windy conditions.

On top of that, you may have also heard that another storm could be on its way to the UK between Christmas and New Year.

Following recent reports that said ‘a snowbomb’ could drop be dropping up to 1cm of snow in the North within just an hour on 27 December, some weather forecasters are now predicting that this new storm could also batter the UK shortly after Christmas.

Although not officially declared by the Met Office as of yet, Storm Corrie would be the third storm of the winter season, following the recent Storm Arwen and Storm Barra.

Storm Corrie would potentially bring with it rain and snow.

Featured image – Flickr