News
Which UK Cities Could See a White Christmas This Year?
With Christmas now in our sights and a cold snap of weather due this week bookies have already opened the betting on which cities will see snow.
Where is snow most likely this Christmas?
According to the latest data from odds experts Whataretheodds.co.uk, Scotland once again leads the way when it comes to the chance of snow this festive season. Aberdeen (2/1) tops the list as the most likely UK city to see snowfall on December 25th, followed closely by Edinburgh (3/1) and Glasgow (3/1).
Further south, Newcastle (5/1) heads the betting among English cities, with Leeds (6/1), Manchester (7/1) and Liverpool (8/1) also in contention for a Christmas Day flurry. Birmingham (8/1) and Cardiff (10/1) trail slightly behind, while London (12/1) and Brighton (14/1) are again the least likely spots for snow this year.
Across the Irish Sea, Belfast (5/1) also features prominently, with forecasters suggesting that Northern Ireland could experience wintry showers around the festive period.
Dave James from What Are The Odds spokesman said:
“After Storm Claudia has come and gone the British public now have their sights set on the Christmas weather and bookies are gearing up for a cold snap. Current bookmaker prices suggest that the north of the UK is most likely to experience snow this Christmas. Aberdeen’s odds of 2/1 represent roughly a 33% chance, while Edinburgh and Glasgow’s 3/1 imply around a 25% likelihood.
In England, Newcastle’s 5/1 odds give it a 17% chance, while Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham remain outsiders but not without hope. Eight of the UK’s major cities currently have odds shorter than 10/1, meaning there’s still a realistic prospect of snow across large parts of the country.
“November marks the start of a cold snap, and with nights drawing in and frosty mornings, and with current models hinting at another Arctic blast in mid December, the ingredients are there for a White Christmas especially in Scotland and the North East.
“Aberdeen remains the clear favourite, but we’ve seen late surprises before. Even London, at 12/1, isn’t entirely out of the picture if the cold air lingers into the festive week.”
| City | Odds | Implied Chance of Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 2/1 | 33% |
| Edinburgh | 3/1 | 25% |
| Glasgow | 3/1 | 25% |
| Newcastle | 5/1 | 17% |
| Belfast | 5/1 | 17% |
| Leeds | 6/1 | 14% |
| Manchester | 7/1 | 12% |
| Liverpool | 8/1 | 11% |
| Birmingham | 8/1 | 11% |
| Cardiff | 10/1 | 9% |
| London | 12/1 | 8% |
| Brighton | 14/1 | 7% |
How do bookies decide what counts as a White Christmas?
While “White Christmas” betting has become increasingly popular in recent years, its important you make sure you know what qualfies as a “White Christmas”.
Bookmakers use official airport weather stations in major UK cities to determine whether it has been a White Christmas in that location. For example, you would need snow to fall at Bristol Airport for the bookies to class it as a White Christmas in Bristol.
This gives bookmakers a clear and consistent metric to work from. It also means there can be some surprises as well. It might snow in areas like Westminster or Putney, but if there’s no snow recorded at Heathrow or London City Airport, then London’s White Christmas bets won’t pay out.
When was the last official White Christmas?
The last “official” White Christmas in the UK was recorded in 2021, when snow was observed at multiple locations across the country. While true widespread snow cover is still a rarity, recent years have seen several “technical” White Christmases, brief flurries that meet the official criteria.
The festive forecast
With bookmakers shortening prices and forecasters predicting colder than average conditions, 2025 could well bring the first proper White Christmas in several years. Whether it’s a light dusting or a full festive blanket, the odds suggest Britain might just be in for a wintry surprise this Christmas Day.
