A wintery outlook

Here's is the latest long range forecast from the Met Office.

Looks 50/50 on a White Christmas, but almost certain a very cold spell leading up to the "big day"

Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:

Light showers in the east Monday, with a few bright or sunny spells. Further bright spells Tuesday and Wednesday but showers in the east turning wintry. Overnight frost, especially inland.

Updated: 1556 on Sat 11 Dec 2010

UK Outlook for Thursday 16 Dec 2010 to Saturday 25 Dec 2010:

An unsettled and cloudy start on Thursday with rain and hill snow sweeping south followed by sunny intervals and wintry showers. These showers soon turning mostly to snow, especially in exposed northern, eastern and western parts of the UK and persisting over the weekend. Some significant accumulations are likely in places and with strong winds at times, there is a significant risk of drifting. Temperatures will be generally very cold with widespread overnight frost and icy stretches developing in places. During the following week there will be further wintry showers and freezing fog may become a hazard. Some southern parts becoming less cold with a risk of heavy rain, particularly in the southwest. However, the southerly extent of snow or northerly extent of rain is very uncertain at the moment.

Updated: 1211 on Sat 11 Dec 2010

UK Outlook for Sunday 26 Dec 2010 to Sunday 9 Jan 2011:

Continuing unsettled and often windy with further wintry showers and perhaps some longer outbreaks of snow in places. Temperatures look set to be generally below average for much of the UK, with a risk of frost and ice in places. However, some milder spells are likely with rain rather than snow, especially in the south.