New weather maps have unveiled the likelihood of each region in the UK being hit by a wave of snow set to sweep across the nation this weekend. The period of December 22-23 is predicted to be unsettled, according to fresh data from WXCHARTS, which utilises MetDesk data.
These new maps indicate some regions with a 100% chance of experiencing falling snow the weekend before Christmas. At 6am on Sunday, large parts of Scotland could be blanketed in snow, but the likelihood does not diminish even as far south as Birmingham.
Elsewhere in England, the chance of witnessing falling snow remains extremely high for much of the north and Midlands, ranging anywhere from 75-100%. Regions south of Oxfordshire have the lowest chance of seeing snow in the country, at just 0-25%.
By 3pm on Sunday, areas of Aberdeenshire around the Cairngorms National Park are due to receive 8cm/hr of snow - the most in the UK. Other areas of the Scottish Highlands are predicted to levels between 5-6cm per hour, with the amount diminishing further south.
In the North of England, areas such as Northumberland and North Yorkshire are due to have snow depths between 1-2cm. By midnight on Monday, the threat of snow will have largely subsided, with only areas in the north of the Scottish Highlands likely to see any dustings.
However, the probability still remains high in these areas, which have a 75% chance of seeing falling snow.
So what does that mean for the Premier League fixture list? Thankfully for Arsenal and Tottenham, they are both playing in London, with the Gunners up against Crystal Palace for the second time in four days on Saturday, this time at Selhurst Park, and Spurs taking on Liverpool in the big match on Sunday afternoon.
Neither of those games are in any danger, but Chelsea face a more uncertain time. They travel north to face Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon and will be looking at the weather closely, particularly given the Merseyside Derby was postponed two weeks ago due to Storm Darragh.
England appears unlikely to see snow just before Christmas, with a mere 0-25% chance compared to Scotland. According to the Met Office's forecast for December 20-22: "Turning milder once again from Friday but staying changeable and often windy, with further spells of rain."
The outlook for December 23 to January 1 suggests a transient calm: "Following a widely unsettled weekend, conditions are expected to briefly become more settled and colder with a weak ridge of high pressure moving across the country."
However, this will be short-lived, as the prediction continues: "This is not expected to last, with further cloud, rain and stronger winds moving quickly east across the UK on Monday, reintroducing very mild conditions."
The forecast concludes with an anticipation of more stable weather patterns: "Following this, a more prolonged period of settled weather looks likely to develop as an area of high pressure becomes established across much of the UK."