As Christmas Day 2025 dawns across the United Kingdom, millions are waking up to a frosty morning, but those hoping for a classic white Christmas may need to temper their expectations. According to the Met Office, the festive period will bring dry and sunny weather for most of the country, with temperatures peaking at a chilly 4-5°C—just a bit below the seasonal average. While the air will bite, especially as brisk easterly winds sweep in from Christmas Eve, the chance of widespread snowfall remains slim. Still, for weather-watchers and hopefuls, there’s a sliver of possibility in the forecast—particularly in the southwest.
“After a spell of unsettled and wet weather, we’re expecting a gradual shift to more settled conditions as high pressure builds into next week,” Met Office Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly told The Halifax Courier. “This will bring drier and colder weather for many over the Christmas period, with the risk of overnight frost and fog where skies clear.”
Indeed, high pressure is firmly in control, setting the stage for a run of chilly but relatively calm days. The forecast for Christmas Eve calls for overcast skies changing to sunny intervals, with highs around 6°C and lows near 3°C. Christmas Day itself will feature sunny intervals, with highs of 6°C and lows dipping to 2°C. Boxing Day continues the trend, with more sunny intervals and highs of 6°C, lows of 4°C. “The weather’s all very similar really, out towards New Year’s Eve,” Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell told Sky News. “It’s a bit colder than average, not unusual for the time of year, but in terms of averages it would be a bit below.”
For much of the UK, the crisp air will be accompanied by strong easterly to north-easterly winds, especially noticeable along the south coast and in Wales. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind, in effect from 4am until just before noon on Christmas Day for the southwest and much of Wales. Gusts are expected to reach 45-55 mph in many areas, with exposed coasts and hills possibly experiencing even stronger blasts, up to 65 mph. “Given the more unusual wind direction, this may lead to some disruption to transport and power supplies,” forecasters noted. Large waves will also be a hazard on coastal areas, making things tricky for the brave souls who fancy a festive swim.
Those in Scotland should brace for even colder conditions. Temperatures there are forecast to plunge below freezing, with the north potentially reaching -5°C. Rural areas could see overnight lows as frigid as -6°C, especially into Boxing Day. The chill will be felt even more acutely due to the persistent wind chill, making it feel close to freezing even where thermometers read a few degrees higher.
But what about that magical white Christmas? The odds, as ever, are slim. The last time all four UK nations experienced snowfall on Christmas Day was back in 2010—a year that saw the most widespread snow cover since 1959. Last year, not a single snowflake was recorded anywhere in the UK on Christmas Day, and this year looks to follow suit for most regions. Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon told the Daily Mail that “it was highly unlikely the UK would see a white Christmas this year,” but did leave the door open for a glimmer of hope. “The only vague possibility is there’s a little band of rain that’s skirting westwards across the Channel through tomorrow and there’s an outside chance it could clip the south-west of England. The chances of any snow falling out of that are very low.”
Still, for those in Devon and Cornwall, there’s a “very small chance” of snow falling on Dartmoor as afternoon rain showers move in, the Met Office told BBC News. The maximum temperature in the region is expected to be 5°C, with lows dipping to -1°C. Swimmers and surfers should take note: those same easterly winds are set to whip up big waves on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued a yellow cold-health alert for the southwest, effective from 6pm on Christmas Day through noon on December 27. The alert warns of icy mornings and freezing nights, with minor impacts expected for health and social care services—particularly among the elderly with multiple health conditions.
“It will turn colder from Christmas Eve, with a strong wind across much of England and Wales, so temperatures on the thermometer will be a little bit below average—around 6°C or 7°C as a max, generally. And then, when you add on that wind chill of an easterly wind, it will probably feel more like freezing from Christmas Eve onwards,” Becky Mitchell explained to the BBC.
Boxing Day will see some cloudier weather in the southern counties, but most of the country is expected to remain dry with sunny spells. This pattern is likely to persist right through to New Year’s Eve, with the Met Office predicting continued cold and settled conditions. There are no strong signals for significant or widespread snowfall during the Christmas period, though “some showers, more especially in eastern and southern areas, may be wintry over higher ground,” according to Jason Kelly.
For those traveling to see family or friends, the RAC has forecast a busy Christmas Eve on the roads, with an estimated 4.2 million car journeys expected to peak between 1pm and 7pm. “Traffic is expected to be heaviest on major roads between 1pm and 7pm, so our advice to drivers—especially those travelling longer distances—is to set out before this time if possible,” a spokesperson for the RAC told the Daily Mail.
Despite the cold, the forecast is a welcome change from the unusually warm start to December, which saw temperatures reach as high as 15°C in some parts of the UK. Now, as high pressure settles in, Britons can expect more traditional winter weather: cold, dry, and occasionally frosty, but with little prospect of the snow many dream of for Christmas morning. For now, the best advice is to bundle up, enjoy the clear skies, and keep an eye on the forecast—just in case that elusive snowflake does decide to fall.
With settled, chilly weather set to continue, this Christmas offers a brisk but bright backdrop for festive celebrations, even if the snow remains only a memory for most.
