It's a scene that's always popular on Christmas cards and in Christmas songs and films, but a white Christmas is just a nice thought for many of us - and it's very likely to just be just a dream again this year too. Here in Wales, forecasts suggest it's unlikely we're going to see much snow over Christmas - but we could see some between now and then.
The Met Office has released its long-range weather forecasts for December 6 to 15 and December 16 to 30 and predicts showers and rain across the south, southeast and north of the UK from Tuesday, December 6, followed by "snow and heavy showers" on high ground. Moderate winds are expected in most areas, the forecaster says, particularly in the north of the UK.
For the rest of the time-frame, high-pressure systems should dominate across the northwest whilst low-pressure systems are likely to persist in the southwest of the UK, the Met Office reports. With this in mind, occasional showers and moderate winds can be expected for the December 6 to 15 period, with snow and snow showers expected at times, again across high-ground areas. You can get more weather news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Read more: Met Office issues yellow weather warning for fog covering parts of Wales
Later in the month, the weather is likely to "settle," according to the Met Office, and we're more likely to see "relatively dry weather" rather than stormy conditions. Whilst heavy rain and strong winds are "less likely" to occur than in a typical December, we are more likely to see frost and fog than in a typical year.
The full long-range forecast for December 6 to 15 states: "On Tuesday, showers and rain are expected in the south, southeast and north of the UK. Moreover, snow and heavy showers are then possible across high ground. Moderate winds are expected in most areas, locally strong in the north and perhaps south of the UK.
"For the rest of the period, high-pressure systems should dominate across the northwest and low-pressure systems are likely to persist in the southwest of the UK. As a result, occasional showers and moderate winds are expected throughout the rest of the period, especially around northern coasts, with more persistent rainfall likely in southern regions.
"Snow and snow showers are expected at times across high-ground areas. Temperatures are likely to be below normal through the period, possibly feeling rather cold."
Whilst, for the December 16 to December 30 period, the long-range forecast reads: "Confidence is low for this period, but overall settled and relatively dry weather is more likely than stormy weather. At this time of year frost and fog are common, and the chance of these, along with below-normal temperatures and spells of wintry precipitation, is slightly higher than usual. Conversely, heavy rain and strong winds are less likely than in a typical December."
Some experts have acknowledged the potential for Britain to temporarily see a repeat of the heavy snow showers of 2010, as reported by SomersetLive. Meteorologist for British Weather Services, Jim Dale, said: "High pressure growing over eastern Europe through the end of November will drive the cold blast as it nudges closer to the UK. Right now it is classical season temperature changes, mist and fog, then we get the easterlies, the breeze."
Looking ahead to December 12, Mr Dale predicted some snow fall: "The snow showers [in the UK] will be sporadic, waiting for the bigger stuff from Europe, which is very sub-zero. The freeze from those eastern parts is transporting itself into ourselves, and that will probably mean as we move towards Christmas (I won't say Christmas itself) but around the 12th and 15th, that's when we can start to talk about potential snow events."
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