Britain could see its first white Christmas in 12 years, with forecasters predicting a sharp tumble in temperatures over the coming weeks.

While the last widespread white Christmas was in 2010, leading bookmaker Coral says winter could come even earlier, with many of us set to enjoy flurries of snow on Christmas Day. In fact, according to forecasting models compiled by the EU’s meteorological agency, the UK could experience a much colder, windier winter.

“The odds say it will be all white on the big day. Big chills are coming early this year,” Coral spokesman, John Hill, told The Metro. “We are less than 100 days away from Christmas now, and with temperatures set to fall rapidly over the upcoming days, the early odds suggest we could be set for a white Christmas this year.”

Many of us might be dreaming of white Christmas, but this cold snap could worsen the cost of living crisis for many households. Worryingly, there is also a possibility the UK could enter a gas supply emergency.

Elsewhere, research by the Met Office found that we are more likely to see snow between January and March than in December, with snow or sleet falling an average 3.9 days in December. White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas Day back by 12 days. Climate change is also to blame, with higher average temperatures over land and sea generally reducing the chances of a white Christmas.

Source: Countryliving.com