AS it gets closer to Christmas, inconvenience aside, many Scots will be hoping for snow.
Though the Highlands tend to get more than a fair share of it, the Central Belt and below tend to be left with a slight dusting.
The idyllic Christmas card scene of widespread lying snow across the UK has only happened four times since 1960 – in 1981, 1995, 2009 and 2010.
But forecasts predict that we may be in for a white Christmas across Scotland this year.
Weather reports state that only one snowflake needs to fall in an area for it to be considered a white Christmas.
Some suggest average December weather, while others hint at a colder northerly airflow that could bring snow to northern regions.
Meteorologically, it is suggested to be early to have any great deal of confidence in the likelihood of snow.
What is the forecast for Christmas in Scotland?
The Met Office states: "Temperatures will likely vary around average with both some milder and colder interludes at times.
"Snow will most likely be restricted to high ground, although could temporarily fall at lower levels in the north during any colder interludes."
WXCharts shows temperatures will drop as low as -7C in some areas, with cold arctic air moving in.
Will there be widespread snow this year?
Simon Partridge, a meteorologist for the Met Office, said predicting weather far in advance is like “betting on horses”.
He said: “There will be a consensus of the most likely pattern to be coming out but it doesn’t always.”
At the moment, a picture book Christmas is looking unlikely with “south-westerly winds” expected and rain across the northern and western parts of the UK.
Everywhere else is expected to be “fairly mild”.
However, if you’re desperate for snow, Partridge suggests heading to the Scottish mountains – the most likely place for snowfall in the UK this Christmas.
When will we know for sure that it’s going to snow?
Forecasting “impactful” snow is notoriously difficult in the UK because several competing elements have to be exact for snow to fall.
Just a fraction of a degree means the difference between a Christmas day of joyful snowball fights and one spent dodging slushy streets.
Partridge said: “The trouble with trying to forecast snow in the UK is that it’s a very fine line between whether we get snow or rain.”
The Met Office will only truly know if there will be big flurries on Christmas day a week in advance because their five-day forecasts are the most detailed and accurate.
Is snow more likely over the Christmas period?
Christmas marks the beginning of when it is likely to snow in the UK but it is more probable for there to be snow in January and February than in December.
Snow settles on the ground for an average of three days in December compared to 3.3 in January and 3.4 in February.
Climate change has also minimised the chances of snow due to higher average temperatures across the land and sea globally.
