Every word Met Office has said on Christmas Day snow as it gives its early verdict

When it comes to weather forecasts, there is one date in particular that captures the most attention. Some will make it a festive tradition to have a flutter on whether it will be a white Christmas.

The big day might still be four weeks away but the Met Office has already given its first prediction for Christmas Day. Snow caused disruption across parts of Nottinghamshire on Monday, November 18, and Tuesday, November 19.

Schools and roads closed and bus services were also disrupted as parts of the county woke up to around 10cm of snow. The forecasting agency has now given its first long-range forecast for the period including Christmas Day.

The Met Office long-range weather forecast for the period from Sunday, December 1 until Tuesday, December 10, states: "Starting mainly unsettled, with showers or longer spells of rain for many parts of the UK. It will also be quite windy, especially towards the north and west.

"It will be mild, although the strong winds will make it feel rather cold. High pressure then looks like building close to or over the UK through early December. This will result in drier but also probably generally slightly cooler conditions, and increase the risk of overnight frost and fog.

"The largely dry, settled theme is likely to be punctuated by brief unsettled and milder spells though, with areas of low pressure crossing the UK, bringing some spells of wind and rain. Temperatures overall generally near average, but rather cold where any fog persists."

Met Office Christmas Day forecast

Its forecast for the fortnight between Wednesday, December 11 and the big day itself - Wednesday, December 25 - warns there is a risk of "some snow". It states: "The start of this period looks like being largely settled, with high pressure close to if not over the UK. However, towards mid-December, there are signs that it will become less settled with west or northwesterly types preferred.

"These will bring some wetter and windier spells with a risk of some snow, especially for hills in the north. These conditions may prevail into late December, although drier, more settled spells may also affect the UK at times, these probably more likely towards the south. Temperatures generally close to average through the period."