Flurry of bets predict it could STILL be a White Christmas

The UK is basking in balmy weather for this time of year but some hopeful punters are still dreaming of a white Christmas with a spike in bets placed on snow to fall today.  

Bookmakers have reported a surge in customers having a flutter on a flurry of snow in 13 of the UK’s biggest cities.  

Aberdeen has the shortest odds at 2-1 for snowfall, while Birmingham and Manchester are both on 6-1 with London trailing on 8-1. 

The warm weather brought out brave swimmers who took part in festive dips in the North Sea at Tynemouth as well as in the Serpentine Lido, Hyde Park. 

A Met Office spokesman confirmed it was unseasonably warm – but could not rule out snow. 

The UK is enjoying unseasonably warm weather this Christmas – but that has not stopped hopeful punters placing bets on a white Christmas. This sunrise was pictured this morning in Tynemouth

Bookmakers have reported a surge in customers having a flutter on a flurry of snow in 13 of the UK's biggest cities. Pictured: The sun rising over St Mary's Lighthouse in Tynemouth on Christmas morning

Bookmakers have reported a surge in customers having a flutter on a flurry of snow in 13 of the UK’s biggest cities. Pictured: The sun rising over St Mary’s Lighthouse in Tynemouth on Christmas morning

The warm weather enticed out hundreds of brave swimmers to take part in the annual Christmas swim at the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park

The warm weather enticed out hundreds of brave swimmers to take part in the annual Christmas swim at the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park

These were some of the swimmers who braved the North Sea's icy waters on Christmas morning as they took part in the annual dip at King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth

These were some of the swimmers who braved the North Sea’s icy waters on Christmas morning as they took part in the annual dip at King Edward’s Bay in Tynemouth

These hardy swimmers gathered at the crack of dawn at King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth to take part in the annual Christmas Day Dip

These hardy swimmers gathered at the crack of dawn at King Edward’s Bay in Tynemouth to take part in the annual Christmas Day Dip

Swimmers basked in the 12C heat as they took a dip in the icy waters at the Serpentine Lido, Hyde Park. Despite the warm weather, the Met Office could not rule out a white Christmas

Swimmers basked in the 12C heat as they took a dip in the icy waters at the Serpentine Lido, Hyde Park. Despite the warm weather, the Met Office could not rule out a white Christmas

Optimistic punters have rushed to back a white Christmas - despite the warm weather. Temperatures of 12C lured the swimmers to the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park this morning

Optimistic punters have rushed to back a white Christmas – despite the warm weather. Temperatures of 12C lured the swimmers to the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park this morning

This swimmer stopped to catch a breath at the annual Christmas swim at the Serpentine Lido in London's Hyde Park

This swimmer stopped to catch a breath at the annual Christmas swim at the Serpentine Lido in London’s Hyde Park

They said: ‘For most places it will be fairly mild. Across England and Wales it should stay around 12C. That’s quite mild as the average for this time of year is 7 or 8C.

‘Throughout the day a cold front will move inwards bringing heavy rain to Northern Ireland and northern England.

How do the Met Office decide what is a White Christmas?

The definition that the Met Office uses to define a white Christmas is for one snowflake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK.

Traditionally they used to use a single location in the country to define a white Christmas which was the Met Office building in London. 

However, with the increase in betting on where will see a white Christmas, the number of locations have increased and can now include sites such as Buckingham Palace, Belfast (Aldergrove Airport), Aberdeen (Pittodrie – Aberdeen FC), Edinburgh (Castle), Coronation Street in Manchester and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

They also analyse the data from their observing stations around the UK to provide a complete picture of where snow has fallen or was lying on Christmas Day.

Source: Met Office 

‘It will also be fairly windy, with gusts of 70mph for the most exposed areas such as Cumbria.

‘Then as the night comes in temperatures will drop quite quickly as that band of heavy rain passes through.

‘It could be a white Christmas for hills and higher grounds.’

The Met Office said parts of north Wales will probably see some snow and the north of England and Scotland may also enjoy a white Christmas.

Boxing Day is expected to have a bright, dry start but a weather system will push through southern England bringing with it heavy rain.

Temperatures will plunge in the evening and the rain could turn to sleet or snow across the country.

The Met Office spokesman added: ‘It’s difficult to predict for Boxing Day, it’s on the verge of sleet and snow. It probably won’t stick because there will be a lot of rain around.’ 

The rest of the week is expected to be dry and bright.  

Coral spokesman Harry Aitkenhead said: ‘It may be punters betting with their hearts rather than their heads but over the last few months we have taken a record number of bets on this year being a white Christmas.

‘We will be paying out long into Boxing Day if snow does fall.’   

The definition that the Met Office uses to define a white Christmas is for one snowflake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK.

Traditionally they used to use a single location in the country to define a white Christmas which was the Met Office building in London. 

However, with the increase in betting on where will see a white Christmas, the number of locations have increased and can now include sites such as Buckingham Palace, Belfast (Aldergrove Airport), Aberdeen (Pittodrie – Aberdeen FC), Edinburgh (Castle), Coronation Street in Manchester and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

They also analyse the data from their observing stations around the UK to provide a complete picture of where snow has fallen or was lying on Christmas Day.

In at the deep end: Swimmers dived into the water at Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park this morning

In at the deep end: Swimmers dived into the water at Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park this morning

A spokesman for bookmakers Coral said the surge of bets on a white Christmas could be punters acting with their hearts rather than their minds. Temperatures at Hyde Park for the annual Christmas swim reached a balmy 12C

A spokesman for bookmakers Coral said the surge of bets on a white Christmas could be punters acting with their hearts rather than their minds. Temperatures at Hyde Park for the annual Christmas swim reached a balmy 12C

Ready, set... The festive swimmers prepared to dive into the Serpentine this morning as the country bathed in unseasonably warm weather

Ready, set… The festive swimmers prepared to dive into the Serpentine this morning as the country bathed in unseasonably warm weather

Confirming it was unseasonably warm, the Met Office said it still could not rule out snow falling in some parts of the UK. Swimmers gathered at Tynemouth beach (pictured) this morning for the annual Christmas dip

Confirming it was unseasonably warm, the Met Office said it still could not rule out snow falling in some parts of the UK. Swimmers gathered at Tynemouth beach (pictured) this morning for the annual Christmas dip

The definition that the Met Office uses to define a white Christmas is for one snowflake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK. Pictured: Swimmers at the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park this morning

The definition that the Met Office uses to define a white Christmas is for one snowflake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK. Pictured: Swimmers at the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park this morning

Wearing Santa swimming shorts and a Santa hat, this brave swimmer made the most of the balmy weather to take part in the annual Christmas swim at the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park, London

Wearing Santa swimming shorts and a Santa hat, this brave swimmer made the most of the balmy weather to take part in the annual Christmas swim at the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park, London

Swimmers Malcom Fidler, 60, and Mallory Smith, 65, spent their Christmas morning wading through the waves at King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth

Swimmers Malcom Fidler, 60, and Mallory Smith, 65, spent their Christmas morning wading through the waves at King Edward’s Bay in Tynemouth

Many people spent the morning opening presents around the Christmas tree - but these brave swimmers took a dip in the North Sea at Tynemouth

Many people spent the morning opening presents around the Christmas tree – but these brave swimmers took a dip in the North Sea at Tynemouth

One swimmer gave the thumbs up to the camera as he climbed out of the Serpentine Lido in London's Hyde Park

One swimmer gave the thumbs up to the camera as he climbed out of the Serpentine Lido in London’s Hyde Park

Festive swimmers prepared to take the plunge at King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth this morning

Festive swimmers prepared to take the plunge at King Edward’s Bay in Tynemouth this morning



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