UK and Europe weather forecast latest, December 20: Heavy showers, thunder and hailstorms sweep across the UK
	UK and Europe weather forecast latest, December 19: Snow fall to cover over the festival period in Britain
	UK and Europe weather forecast latest, December 18: Conditions turn colder with snow over northern hills for Christmas

UK's weather forecast

Britain is bracing for 10 inches of snow to fall this week as a bitter -5C deep freeze hits over the festive period, according to the latest forecasts, Express reported.

Low pressure from the North Atlantic is forecast to sweep over the UK during Christmas week, potentially bringing wintry conditions including freezing sub-zero temperatures and snow. There could be up to 10 inches of snow falling by next Sunday in Scotland, according to WXCHARTS. North west regions including Cumbria could also see up to three inches laying by the end of the week. Temperatures are also expected to drop as low as -5C in Central Scotland during this time, the maps suggest.

England will also be battered by bitterly cold weather, with north west regions including Liverpool likely to see lows of -0C.

On Christmas Day, temperatures are expected to stay in single figures of 3C as far south as London and Bournemouth. The BBC's long range forecast predicted low pressure to sweep in during the first half of the week.

UK snow forecast: Britain is bracing for snow on Christmas Day (Image: WXCHARTS)

The forecast said: "The first half of this week will continue in the same vein as the previous week, with additional low pressure areas continuing to track north-eastwards over the UK."

"Because we have relatively high pressure to the north of the UK, the north Atlantic low pressure track is displaced a bit further south than where it would normally be in December. This means that Wales and south-west England will continue to bear the brunt of the strongest winds and heaviest rainfall, rather than western Scotland and Cumbria."

"Milder than average conditions in the early part of the week, due to a combination of south-westerly winds, extensive cloud cover, rain and often windy weather. His will prevent a frost forming at night. However, there is a slight risk that Scotland and even northern England could get into some chillier air on Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd, if the low pressure areas fail to push up quite as far over the UK."

The forecast added colder conditions could arrive by Christmas Day, with a chance of snow. The BBC said: "Some forecast computer models support this risk. This would mean the chance of a slight frost at night here, and maybe some sleet and snow over the mountains of Wales and northern UK."

UK snow forecast: Temperatures could fall as low as -5C (Image: WXCHARTS)

"By Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, confidence is growing for at least a couple of days of colder and brighter weather, as winds change to a north-westerly direction and a ridge of high pressure then moves in from the west."

"Scattered wintry showers in this north-westerly flow may fall as snow, raising the possibility of a white Christmas in parts of the UK! Scotland and the hillier parts of northern England and Wales stand the best chance. Stay tuned to the forecast over the next few days. Some sunshine by day, but a frost is very likely at night for many places."

"Additional fronts moving in at the end of week will bring some rain. A slight chance of this falling as snow for a time as the fronts move into colder air over the UK."

The Met Office added snow could arrive in the north and east during the festive period. The long range forecast said: "There is potential for outbreaks of heavy rain in the south at the beginning of this period."

"Otherwise, a ridge of high pressure is expected to build to the west of the UK, bringing cold conditions, and remaining the dominant pattern for the rest of the year, with many southern and western parts becoming predominantly dry and settled."

UK snow forecast: Snow could fall as low as Cumbria in the north west of England (Image: WXCHARTS)

"North and east seeing the greatest chance of showers, with these falling as snow in places, especially on higher ground. A potential for strong winds in the far south at first; later, any strong winds are likely to be confined to the north and perhaps the east."

"Prevalence of overnight fog and frost is likely increasing, with fog potentially slow to clear. Temperatures either close to or below normal."

Paul Michaelwaite at Netweather added low pressure could arrive as early as Sunday. He said: "Later Sunday, another batch of wet, windy weather is going to start to arrive into the southwest, as a low pressure system moves in from the Atlantic. That's going to push the rain and wind up across England, Wales and very likely southern Scotland, overnight and into the start of Monday."

"There is some uncertainty over the track of the low pressure though, it may scoot away further to the south, but equally a slightly more northern track is a possibility, which would make for a more widespread spell of wind and rain across England and Wales into midweek."

On December 21

According to Weather Online, outbreaks of rain and sleet clear to the east from most areas through the day as low pressure passes eastward across the country. Drier, brighter conditions follow from the west. Strong winds affect the far south and Irish Sea coasts. A wetter day across Scotland with hill snow falling here. Drying up towards the evening for most. Highs at 5 to 7C in the north; 10 to 13C across Wales, southeast Ireland and much of England.

Photo: Weather Online

Europe's weather forecast

Improving conditions from the west across Portugal and Spain. Heavy showers aross the Balearic Islands. Continuing with the showers and or longer spells of rain for Corsica and Sardinia as well as Sicily. Mainland Italy looks to be mostly dry but with a few scattered showers about in places. Cloud thickening across western Greece but mainly dry here. Dry too for Turkey.

A wet start for eastern France but the rain should gradually become confined to the far east later. Drier elsewhere but with a few scattered showers about. Largely dry across the Low Countries although there could be some light rain along the coasts here. Patchy rain pushes eastwards across Germany. Settled across eastern Europe. Largely dry across the Alpine countries although there is the risk of some rain for western Switzerland.

Rain will clear eastern areas of Finland first thing to allow for a largely dry day here. Mostly dry too for Sweden. Rain affecting northern and western areas of Norway with strong to gale force winds along the coasts. Largely dry and mild across the Baltic States although some patchy rain could move into western areas later on. A breezy day but largely dry over Denmark but with some light rain to the far north and far west.

Photo: Stirimeteo

Photo: Stirimeteo

On December 21

Some cloud and patchy rain for northern Iberia, otherwise a dry and fine day across Portugal and Spain. Isolated showers possible for the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and southern Italy though it will stay largely dry and sunny. Dry and bright too for much of Italy. Variable amounts of cloud around for Greece and Turkey with isolated showers for western Greece and northern Turkey, Weather Online reported.

Rain, some of this heavy, spreads across France, the Low Countries and into western Germany and Switzerland on Monday. Staying dry and bright to the far south of France. Winds strengthen here too. Cloud thickens over eastern Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic though it stays dry. Staying dry and fine further east for Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.

Photo: Weather Online

Starting dry and fine for Denmark though cloud thickens, winds strengthen and rain arrives later. Mostly dry and fair for the Baltic States with patchy rain or showers at times over coastal areas. Patchy outbreaks of rain affect Finland while Sweden sees a mostly dry and fine day. Outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow affect southwest Norway through the day, staying mostly dry and fair across the rest of the country.

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