Christmas is just around the corner, though this year’s holiday in London will likely be a bit warmer than average.
There’s not much of a chance of any snowy weather this year, London has had white Christmases in the past.
When was the last white Christmas in London?
According to the Met Office, a white Christmas is officially recorded whenever a snowflake falls on Christmas day – even if it doesn’t stick on the ground.
The most recent time London had a snowy holiday was in 2023, with 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2017 also being classed white Christmases.
But most of us think of a white Christmas as blankets of snow covering the UK – yet London hasn’t seen a truly white Christmas for 20 years.
London has technically had six white Christmases since 1960: 1964, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1996 and 1999.
However, white Christmases in London have not always been so rare.
According to the Met Office, ‘winters were particularly persistent and severe’ from 1550-1850, as Britain (and the entire Northern Hemisphere) was going through what is now known as the Little Ice Age.
This is why we see such harsh descriptions of winter in the novels of Charles Dickens, such as in A Christmas Carol.
During this time snowfall was common and the river Thames would even completely freeze over, meaning people could ice skate on it.
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Football pitches, bowling matches, fruit-sellers, shoemakers and even barbers were also set up on the ice, in what was known as Frost Fairs.
The Met office added: ‘Since 1960, around half of the years have seen at least 5% of the network record snow falling on Christmas Day.
‘This means we can probably expect more than half of all Christmas Days to be a white Christmas.’
It’s highly unlikely this year will be a white Christmas, but areas further north, including Edinburgh and Newcastle, are likely to see a sprinkle of snow.
The Met Office said: ‘Christmas Day itself is likely to be settled, often cloudy, and dry with light winds for the majority. Once again, the far north may be windier, with a small chance of further rain across northwest Scotland.
‘Temperatures are expected to be widely mild, so if you are hoping for a blanket of snow across the country on Christmas Day, I’m sorry to say you will be disappointed.’
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