London: Many people across the UK are set to wake up to a cold and frosty start on Christmas Day, although hopes of snowfall are low, according to the Met Office.
Forecasters say both December 24 and 25 are expected to be dry and bright for most parts of the country. However, a brisk easterly wind developing from Christmas Eve will make temperatures feel colder than average for the time of year.
The Met Office says conditions across much of the UK will feel close to freezing, with daytime temperatures peaking at around 4–5°C throughout the festive period. In Scotland, the cold will be more pronounced, with temperatures forecast to fall below freezing across large areas. Northern parts of the country could see temperatures dip as low as -5°C.
A dry, chilly and breezy Christmas Eve ↘️ pic.twitter.com/N6yW9HJ4ry
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 23, 2025
Cold conditions may also affect those planning outdoor festive activities. Keen swimmers hoping for a Christmas Day or Boxing Day sea dip could encounter challenging conditions, as easterly winds are expected to generate large waves along parts of the coast.
Despite the chill, the chances of a white Christmas remain slim. Forecasters say there is only a little possibility of snow over Dartmoor and around a 10 percent chance of ‘winter flurries’ along the south coast of England. Meteorologists note that technically, just a single snowflake falling anywhere in the UK would qualify as a white Christmas.
Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna previously explained that snowfall in the far south of England is something to keep an eye on, but widespread snow is not expected. Last year, no snowflakes were recorded anywhere in the UK on Christmas Day, with temperatures remaining above zero nationwide.
The last time all four nations of the UK experienced a white Christmas was in 2010, a year that saw the most widespread snowfall since 1959.
Looking ahead to Boxing Day, some southern counties may see increased cloud cover, while most other areas are expected to stay dry with sunny spells. Similar weather conditions are forecast to continue through to New Year’s Eve.
Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell said that the weather pattern is fairly consistent through the festive period, noting that temperatures are slightly below average but not unusual for this time of year. Mitchell added that overall, the Christmas period is shaping up to be ‘quite a nice forecast’ despite the colder-than-average feel.
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