UK weather: Forecasters say snow is possible this week

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Then keep your fingers crossed as "unsettled" weather sweeps across the UK this week.

Monday morning commuters will feel the chill and could see ice in Scotland before the weather becomes increasingly wet as the week progresses.

And there is a possibility of snow - but at the moment forecasters say that if it does come it will only be in northern parts of the UK.

On its website, the Met Office wrote: "Rain across the far west on Tuesday will turn patchier as it reaches eastern areas by Wednesday. Heavier rain, stronger winds and possibly hill snow by Thursday."

It added: "Thursday and Friday look set to be wet and windy in the North West, and colder and drier in the far east. Where these two weather types meet, there could be some snow, probably over high ground in the North."

Sky weather presenter Isobel Lang said people should brace for some "very wet" weather, too.

"The start of this week will feel chilly despite lighter winds," she said. "There'll be some ice first thing on Monday morning across parts of Scotland, although cloudier skies will tend to keep nights largely frost-free after that.

"It looks drier for the most part too, with just weakening Atlantic fronts feeding in some patchy rain. However, the end of the week looks more unsettled with the potential for some very wet and windy weather. Some snow is possible in northern parts, mainly over high ground.

"Warnings could be needed for wind, rain or snow - best keep an eye on the Met Office warnings if planning on travelling later in the week."

According to the Met Office, the last official white Christmas was recorded in 2010, when there was widespread snow in Northern Ireland, Scotland, parts of Wales, the Midlands, the North East and South West.

Forecasters can only accurately predict what the weather will be like on Christmas Day up to five days beforehand.

The Sky News weather team said there was some indication it will be cold on 25 December but that it was far too early to say if it will snow.

The UK has already seen its fair share of extreme weather this year, with the "Beast from the East" in February and March delaying spring and bringing Arctic conditions, and the scorching heatwave which broke records through June and July.