WE could be in for a white Christmas this year – but it would come with a tough winter.
Salendine Nook meteorologist Paul Stevens says we will all be wrapping up warm this December as very cold weather hits the Pennines – and that could mean snow on Christmas Day.
Paul even reckons it could be worth a flutter at the town’s betting offices.
But the winter looks like it could be worse than last year when Huddersfield suffered from severe snowfalls and black ice on the roads.
He said: “There’s going to be some very cold weather and we’re going to see some snow showers as far as the Pennines.
“This year I think it’s definitely worth taking a punt on it, being a white Christmas!”
But before then it’s a case of hold on to your hats!
Paul said: “Over the next few weeks the weather is set to become more unsettled with some wet and wild weather with gusts of up to 60mph.
“People need to wrap up warm as there are going to be some bitterly cold days towards the end of the month heading into December.’’
He said: “We’ll be getting a concentration of very cold air coming from Scandinavia with temperatures as much as 3°C or 4°C below normal.
“Because this year there is more risk of easterly winds coming off the continent, we’re going to see some very cold weather.
“For much of December and in the run up to Christmas we can expect some unsettled, stormy weather.
“Over the Christmas period we can expect some wintry showers on the hills – a bit of colour to get us in the festive mood.
“There are good odds for snowfall in places like Glasgow and Leeds.’’
Paul says that January and February could see a repeat of the freezing, snowy weather we experienced earlier this year.
He said: “Around this time the European cold will start to develop and there will be bitter winds blowing in bringing sub-zero temperatures during the day and certainly at night.
“At the moment we are looking at a high risk of one or two severe snow falls.
“On balance the weather will be snowier than last winter. I’m not saying it’s going to be as bad as 1981-82, but I think it’s going to be colder than what we’ve been used to recently.”
While the last official white Christmas was in 2004, bookmakers have reported a flurry of bets on there being snowfall this festive season.
One online site is offering odds of 6/1 of snowfall in Manchester.
Matt Fisher, duty manager of Huddersfield bookmakers Jack Pearson, said customers were yet to take a punt on snow falling on Christmas Day.
He said: “It’s not something we’ve priced, but if a customer does come in wanting to place a bet we would take a look at what’s being offered elsewhere and come up with a competitive price.
“At the moment people are more interested in betting on the X Factor or Strictly Come Dancing.
“We may get a few bets nearer to Christmas, but it’s never a massive price and it’s seen as just a bit of fun.
“I would expect the odds of it snowing in Leeds to be similar to Manchester, but it’s a very precise bet. It’s not enough to see a flake of snow – it has to fall on the roof of Leeds weather station!”
