Christmas Day is just around the corner, but can we expect a white Christmas this year, with a layer of glistening snow covering the ground? Here’s what you need to know. What will the weather be like this week? On the run up to Christmas Day itself, the weather in the UK is forecast to be a mixed bag, with rain, clear spells, colder temperatures and frost. Monday (21 Dec) will see rain, heavy at times, across central and southern UK. However, this will then clear and make way for brighter weather across central areas. It will remain cloudy in the south, with “dreary mizzle over coasts and hills, but very mild.” It will be colder across Scotland, with further showers in the north and west. Central and south areas of England, alongside Wales, will be cloudy and mild with some rain at times on Monday evening, but it will be both clearer and colder in the north, with frost and a few fog patches developing. There will be showers in north and west Scotland. On Tuesday (22 Dec), it will be cloudy across central and southern England and Wales, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. There will be some sunshine in the north, with further showers across north and west Scotland. The outlook for Wednesday (23 Dec) to Friday (25 Dec) predicts “outbreaks of heavy rain across the south on Wednesday, colder across the north with a few wintry showers. Drier and colder for most over Christmas with overnight frost.” What is the weather forecast for Christmas Day? Christmas Day is set to see dry conditions for most, with rain in some areas, and will be generally cold across the UK. The Met Office says, “An area of high pressure is expected over the west of the UK during Christmas Day and Boxing Day, bringing cold and generally dry conditions for most. “A few showers may occur in eastern coastal areas, and light rain and stronger winds will affect the northwest. Fog formation and overnight frosts are possible over these days, more so in the south.” Towards the new year, the Met Office forecasts “a shift to far more unsettled conditions.” “Atlantic low pressure systems could bring potentially stormy weather at times, with strong northerly winds, heavy rain, and potentially snow,” it adds. These conditions are expected to be more severe in the north, but could affect all areas of the UK at times.