We WILL have a white Christmas (but only frost)

Frosty conditions will bring a ‘seasonal feel’ during the festive period, but those dreaming of a truly white Christmas are likely to be disappointed.

Temperatures across most of the country will stay in mid-single figures on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with no snow expected to settle, experts said.

It comes after torrential rain caused flooding chaos over the weekend, sparking numerous severe weather warnings.

The Met Office said temperatures are expected to drop over the coming days, and that hats, coats and scarves would be needed for any household winter walks. 

Tom Morgan, meteorologist at the Met Office, said the mercury could drop to minus 3C (27F) in parts of England and Wales on Christmas Eve morning.

Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 6C (43F) in the south of England on December 24 and a high of 5C (41F) on Christmas Day. And parts of the north including Manchester face similarly low temperatures.

‘It’s going to be dry for the vast majority of the UK, and it will be a cold and frosty start to the day, particularly for England and Wales,’ said Mr Morgan.

‘So there will be a seasonal feel in terms of white frost on the ground, but in terms of snow, we’re not anticipating any on the ground for the vast majority of the country, unfortunately. It’s going to be a frosty Christmas rather than a white Christmas.

‘It’s a mild and wet start to the week in the south but turning much colder and sunnier for the Christmas period and I think everyone will notice that.

‘Even though it’s not going to be a white Christmas, people will still need their big coats and scarves and hats etcetera for any walks they may be going on over the Christmas period.’

Mr Morgan said there may be a light covering of snow in some eastern parts of Scotland on Christmas Eve, but nothing is currently expected on Christmas Day.

Over the weekend, heavy rain caused serious flooding in parts of England and Wales, with dozens of alerts made for the coming days.

The downpours even led to damaging landslides at the Eden Project in Cornwall, forcing the attraction to close yesterday.

Nine Environment Agency flood warnings remained in force last night, covering sections of the Severn, Teme and Wye in western England, Keswick in Cumbria, and the River Ouse in North Yorkshire. 

A further 51 flood alerts covered rivers across the South West, the West Midlands and northern England.

The damage at the Eden Project occurred overnight on Saturday, with visitors turned away yesterday.

Simon Bellamy, a director at the attraction, said: ‘We declared a major incident for our staff team here and in Eden’s 20-year history this is significant.

‘There is damage on site to the walls and flooding coming into the site.’ Further ‘pretty intense rain’ is predicted for Wednesday across southern England, the Midlands and Wales, the Met Office said last night. 

Yesterday drivers were pictured ploughing through the deluge on flooded roads in areas such as Essex.

And on Saturday morning, emergency services were seen rescuing a DPD delivery van driver who had become stranded in flood water at Newbridge on Usk in Wales.