Home / Editor's Pick /

When was our last white Christmas?

08:01
24 December 2022

Christmas forecast
When was our last white Christmas?

2020 was a white Christmas, however, only 4% of stations reported any snow lying on the ground. Hexham, Northumberland.2020 was a white Christmas, however, only 4% of stations reported any snow lying on the ground. Hexham, Northumberland. - © picture alliance

A white Christmas is defined as one snowflake observed falling somewhere in the UK within the 24 hours of Christmas, but when did we last have one?

In the UK, the definition of a white Christmas was set by the Met Office. It used to be that a snowflake had to fall on the Met Office's building in London, but today it's if just one snowflake falls somewhere.

In Ireland, Met Éireann similarly state that a white Christmas is defined by the measure of any quantity of snow falling anytime over Christmas Day. The last Irish white Christmas was in 2010, with a spectacular 27cm of snow.

Meanwhile in the UK, 2021 was the last white Christmas with 6% of stations recording snow falling, but less than 1% of stations reported any snow lying on the ground. The last widespread white Christmas in the UK was also in 2010.

So will we have a white Christmas this year? Keep tabs on the WeatherRadar to see if you can find any hints of pink on there!

Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
A weather map shows Hurricane Melissa over Jamaica. The Category 5 hurricane is moving over Montego Bay and Kingston with strong winds. Colours indicate wind speeds.
Wednesday 29 October 2025

Disaster in the Caribbean

Hurricane Melissa sweeps across Jamaica
Weather map of the UK and Ireland showing temperatures between 15°C and 17°C in major cities like London, Cardiff, Dublin, and Aberdeen, with an icon of a red thermometer on the left.
Thursday 6 November 2025

Unseasonable warmth

Mild autumn temperatures continue
Small wooded island with a white beach and surrounding coral reef in the deep blue sea.
Thursday 6 November 2025

Ocean warming

Sea level rise is accelerating
All weather news
This might also interest you
Split weather map showing the UK and Ireland. The left side illustrates strong winds circulating around a low-pressure system, with gusts of 20–30 mph highlighted in orange and yellow. The right side shows radar imagery with widespread blue rain bands and patches of thunderstorms, especially over northern England and Scotland.
Thursday 28 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Remaining widely unsettled
Sunday 17 August 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Summer shots from a warm week
plit image showing a double rainbow over a rocky shoreline on the left and sheep grazing in a green field under stormy clouds on the right.
Sunday 2 November 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mixed conditions on an unsettled week
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.ie

facebooktwitteryouTubeContact uslinkList
Privacy Policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement