Snow could be set to fall over the Christmas period according to weather data from WXCharts.com.
The recently revealed maps and charts show patches of snow across several parts of the country on the days leading up to Christmas, with cold, icy temperatures also likely.
According to the data, December 22 will bring snow to Scotland, the majority of Britain’s west coast and major cities such as Manchester and Newcastle, potentially reaching as far south as Southampton in the south of England.
The weather maps show snow falling from 9am on December 21 in parts of the Scottish Highlands, going on to fall across the UK until 12am on December 23 – a total of 39 hours.
The weather front is set to bring with it an “ice bomb” as temperatures plummet to freezing in large parts of the country from December
Evening temperatures could drop as low as minus eight degrees in central parts of the country as Britain prepares for a brutally cold lead up to Christmas Day.
A Met Office forecast for December 22 onwards predicts that there will be a mix of rain, sleet, some hill snow and soft hail along with heavy strong gales.
It adds: “Southeastern areas mostly sheltered from these but widely feeling very cold.
“Gradually turning more settled through the following week, with cloud, stronger winds and outbreaks of rain increasingly becoming confined to northwest Scotland, as an area of high pressure becomes established across at least the south of the UK.”
But those excited at the prospect of a White Christmas might have to temper their expectations slightly, despite the weather maps.
The Met Office warned last week, however, that single forecasting runs aren’t reliable enough to work out a detailed forecast and are only part of the wide range of details experts look at to determine their forecasts.
Met Office spokesperson, Oliver Claydon, told Express.co.uk: “As an area of low pressure passes to the north of the UK and clears eastwards a strong north-westerly will develop, this allows cooler air in from the northwest and it’ll feel even colder with the windchill.
“There is some snow in our forecast for Sunday, a few centimetres could accumulate over the hills in the north from wintry showers. There is no indication of 39 hours of non-stop snow.
“Elsewhere a mix of rain, sleet and soft hail is possible. As ever with snow the margins are finely balanced so further detail will become clear over the next couple of days as we approach the weekend.”
