Will it be a white Christmas in the South East?

Widespread snow on Christmas Day remains a rarity

As 25 December approaches, many are left wondering if we might wake up to a picturesque, snowy scene on Christmas morning.

According to the Met Office, a white Christmas is officially defined by the observation of a single snowflake falling anywhere in the UK within the 24 hours of 25 December.

Widespread snow on Christmas Day remains a rarity.

The last significant event was in 2010, when snow blanketed Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.

For snow to form, two essential ingredients are required: cold air and moisture in the atmosphere.

The current forecast for the festive period shows little sign of either.

This weekend, a deepening low-pressure system will move across northern Scotland, bringing strong winds and unseasonably mild conditions on Saturday, with temperatures well above average.

However, a colder airmass is expected to arrive on Sunday, briefly bringing temperatures back to around the seasonal norm.

As we approach Christmas itself, high-pressure is expected to build over southern England, bringing calm, settled conditions and potentially pushing temperatures above the seasonal average once again.

So a mild, dry and often cloudy Christmas is the current forecast and the dream of a snowy Christmas for southeast England may have to wait another year.