Northern Ireland set for a white Christmas?
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow. Maybe?
We all dream of a white Christmas so maybe pack your winter woolies as there are rumours circulating that this Christmas is set to be the coldest winter in 53 years with temperatures set to plummet to -20 degrees in some places. The MET Office are predicting violent and “deadly” Arctic storms that will rage into the start of 2017 as thermometers nudge -20C triggering outbreaks of crippling snow.
The start of December was reportedly the mildest December weather since 1994 with temperatures reaching a sunny 15.9C at Magilligan, Co. Londonderry.
The last Christmas snowfall was back in 2010 which was called 'The Big Freeze' when the coldest temperatures were recorded at -18.7 in Castlederg and the majority of Northern Ireland came to a standstill with its sub zero temperatures, the coldest since 1963.
Satellite photo of Great Britain and eastern Ireland showing the extent of snow cover. This photo was taken on 7 January 2010 following consecutive days of snow
But it seems this year, the chance of snow is quite possible with temperatures reportedly reaching a maximum of 7 degrees with snow and wind warnings on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to be a chilly 3 degrees with a wind warning.
If you're hoping for a snowy Christmas, one of the ten places in the U.K. expected to see snow is the iconic Dark Hedges from the successful television series 'Game Of Thrones' based in Ballymoney, Co. Antrim.
What counts as a white Christmas?
To be counted as a white Christmas by the Met Office only a single snowflake need fall somewhere in the UK on December 25.
A widespread white Christmas is defined as snow covering at least 40 per cent of the country.