Snow in London: When is the white stuff forecast for the capital?

Those who woke up to the freezing temperature across London this morning may be wondering if we are going to see snow this year.

We all like to grumble about the cold, and it’s more pertinent than ever this year given the cost of living crisis and the rise in energy bills for many.

Here’s what the long range forecast is looking like for London in terms of snowfall:

Is snow forecast for London?

According to Weather.com we’re unlikely to get any snow during the cold snap this weekend, but it probably will fall at some time next week as temperatures remain low, but the chance of precipitation increases. They say there’s a 50% chance of snow on the night of Tuesday, December 13, as temperatures fall to around -2C.

This snowfall could continue into the next morning of Wednesday, December 14, but may turn back into rain as the mercury creeps back up to 3C. Their long range forecasts expect there to be more snow showers on Thursday, December 15, with temperatures again around 2C or 3C.

The forecast of snow is to continue into that evening, as temperatures once again fall to around -1C in London. Weather.com expects there to be a 45% chance of snow on Friday, December 16, with a blanket of snow likely to fall before noon that day if we do get it.

Will there be snow in the rest of the UK?

All four countries in the UK are likely to experience some snow and ice during the cold snap that is set to last into next week. A press release from the Met Office said: “Yellow National Severe Weather Warnings for ice and snow have been issued for parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the east coast and South West England.”

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued a Level 3 Cold Weather Alert for England, which is to last until Monday, December 12. Jason Kelly, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Through the weekend and into next week cold weather will continue, with an ongoing chance of wintry showers, mainly for coasts, and freezing fog patches inland.”

He added: “An area of low pressure may then threaten southern and southwestern parts of the UK through mid-week. Confidence in the exact track of this system is low, but should it push precipitation into the UK, then this would readily turn to snow, with a lower chance of freezing rain.”