Will Northern Ireland have a white Christmas this year?
2020 has been full of surprises ☃️❄️
Last updated 21st Dec 2020
There's something special about waking up to a covering of the white stuff on Christmas morning. It's been years since Northern Ireland last had a proper white Christmas.
With the festive plans of so many ruined by a new coronavirus strain, can we at least hope for a Christmas Day with a picturesque covering of snow?
The Met Office says that, despite frosty conditions bringing a "seasonal feel" to the UK, those hoping for a white Christmas will be disappointed.
Tom Morgan, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "It's going to be dry for the vast majority of the UK, and it will be a cold and frosty start to the day, particularly for England and Wales.
"So there will be a seasonal feel in terms of white frost on the ground, but in terms of snow, we're not anticipating any on the ground for the vast majority of the country, unfortunately.
"It's going to be a frosty Christmas rather than a white Christmas.
"It's a mild and wet start to the week in the south but turning much colder and sunnier for the Christmas period and I think everyone will notice that."
"Even though it's not going to be a white Christmas, people will still need their big coats and scarves and hats for any walks they may be going on over the Christmas period."
Are you ready for winter? With most of us spending more time at home, being prepared for winter is more important than ever. Northern Ireland’s main utilities want to encourage everyone to get ready for the possibility of extreme weather over the coming months, making sure you know who to contact and how to stay safe in case your utility services are disrupted. Below you will find the contact details of the main utility providers and how to get in touch if you need to. You can also visit their websites for some top tips on how to get winter ready.