Dreaming of a White Christmas?

For many people in the northern hemisphere, Christmas is synonymous with snow. Nothing is more festive than cosying up in front of a fire whilst it snows outside. The last widespread UK White Christmas was in 2010, however, there were snow reports from 11% of UK weather stations last Christmas. We’re all familiar with the unpredictability of the Great British weather and here at Grangers, we love all types, no matter how wet or cold. There are so many amazing snow-dependent sports, like skiing, snowboarding and sledging, and so many activities that can be elevated by a snowy terrain. So is a White Christmas on the cards this year? Grangers is going to break down the White Christmas phenomenon, why it’s so festive and how likely it is to happen this year.

What causes snow?

Firstly, let’s bring it back to basics. We all understand that snow occurs when it’s cold (really cold). But did you know that the air temperature doesn’t need to be 0ºC or below for snow to fall? In reality, 4ºC and below can be cold enough and the heaviest snowfalls have been known to occur between 0-2ºC. Snow is just precipitation that forms when water vapour freezes, though it isn’t frozen rain but ice crystals that form in clouds. When the crystals become heavy enough, they fall to the ground as snow.

What is a White Christmas?

If even a single snowflake is observed falling on Christmas Day somewhere in the UK, that is defined as a White Christmas. Bing Crosby wasn’t asking for much.

Why is snow associated with Christmas?
A big reason why society associates snow with Christmas is down to the Victorians, namely Charles Dickens and his novel, A Christmas Carol. In A Christmas Carol, Dickens depicts snowy Christmas scenes and, with the immediate success of the novel and its long-lasting cultural impact, this idea of Christmas quickly became the norm. From here, Christmas and snow have been inseparable in pop culture, from songs like White Christmas and Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! to Christmas movies like It’s a Wonderful Life and Home Alone.

Influences on UK winter weather

The biggest factor impacting our winter weather is the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). The NAO is a climate pattern of pressure fluctuations over the North Atlantic Ocean between the high-pressure area of the Azores and the low-pressure area of Iceland. It influences several weather systems that directly affect us, including the strength and direction of westerly winds, the North Atlantic jet stream and winter sea surface temperature. A positive phase (lower-than-average pressure over Iceland and higher-than-average pressure over the Azores) brings us milder winters, whereas a negative phase (higher-than-average pressure over Iceland and lower-than-average pressure over the Azores) delivers colder winters that are more likely to bring snow. The NAO can be shaped by external elements, including the Polar vortex, Arctic sea ice and tropical rainfall. To read more about this topic, check out the MET Office article, Factors that influence UK weather.

How likely is a White Christmas?

Statistically, we are more likely to experience snow in January and February. When comparing the average number of days that snow lays on the ground over the winter months, December has 3 days of snow, January has 3.3 days and February has 3.4 days. Christmas is right at the start of the period when snow normally falls in the UK, meaning it isn’t as probable as later into the season. The areas most likely to see snow are northern England, northwest Midlands, northern and western Scotland and north Wales.

Wrap up whatever the weather

For most of us, a White Christmas would be a real festive treat but no matter what the wintry skies bring our way, make sure you wrap up warm, whatever the weather. Your insulated jackets, waterproof coats, baselayers and Merino hats, gloves and jumpers will all come into play this Christmastime. When heading into snowy terrain, preparation is key. You will need to check that your gear is up to the job of keeping you warm and dry. With Grangers’ extensive range of cleaning and reproofing products, your outdoor gear will be expertly cared for, helping you to stay outside in the snow for longer. Remember, always check weather forecasts, pack appropriate provisions and tell a friend or family member where you’re going. Taking these simple measures can take immense pressure off forces like Mountain Rescue, helping to keep us all safe when out on the fells.

Team Grangers are definitely dreaming of a White Christmas so we can get out onto the snowy hills of the Peak District! From all of us here, we hope you have a merry Christmas and a happy new year! #withgrangersyoucan