Manchester weather: Met Office forecast for December and Christmas Day - will there be a white Christmas?

As December approaches there is one question on everyone’s mind; will it be a white Christmas in Manchester this year? And while many of us have come to the realisation that they do get rarer and further apart, one part of us always hopes to wake up to a snowy  landscape.

In fact, Manchester has not been treated to a proper snowy Christmas Day since 2010, if you don’t count a few flakes falling last year. But, to officially declare it a white Christmas, all that is required is for a single snowflake falling the the 24 hours of December 25 at any of the UK’s 13 major airports.

Despite the very low requirements, a white Christmas is looking unlikely according to the Met Office’s long range weather forecast. While confidence remains low for the Christmas period, weather conditions are expected to become more settled than we have seen in the recent weeks.

Wetter weather fronts may however come in from the west, with a few drier interludes. Manchester might see temperatures average out closer to normal for this season, with some risk of overnight frost and fog.

But as far as snow goes, it is unlikely that Mancunians will wake up to a white Christmas in 2022. We might have to confide in films and decorations to get us in the Christmas spirit.

Met Office weather forecast for Manchester in December

Early December will see a generally more settled weather pattern compared to November, but with risks of showers on the northeastern coastal areas and the south coast, and more persistent rain to the west and southwest of the UK. The showers may become wintry with a slight chance of snow on higher ground.

After a relatively warm autumn, temperatures are expected to drop slightly below average through the start of the month, particularly in the southern parts of the country where easterly winds will make it feel colder. Weather certainty remains low as we head towards the middle of December.

Weather conditions are however looking to be more settled than of late. As we get closer to Christmas, there is a chance that the UK will see some rainier fronts coming in from the west, with a few drier interludes.

Temperatures are looking to be around average for the season, but colder conditions are possible. We might see some overnight frost and foggy mornings across the country.