New research has revealed which cities in Scotland are “most likely” to have a White Christmas. With December 25 now just a week away, it is hard to escape the festive buzz.

While not everyone is a fan of winter weather, most Scots will agree that snowfall on Christmas Day is magical. A new study conducted by Betsson has named the UK cities most likely to wake up to a snowy Christmas.

The experts analysed historical weather data over the past 20 years, including snow days, depths, and Christmas snowfall. The city in Scotland most likely to wake up to snow this Christmas is Aberdeen. Known for its frosty winters, the Granite City also topped the UK-wide list.

According to Betsson, Aberdeen sees 3.36 days of snow on average each December. The experts also state that 13.64 per cent of Aberdeen’s Christmases have been snowy, while the average snow depth on Christmas was found to be 5.28 centimetres.

Aberdeen is known for its Christmas Village, which each year welcomes thousands of visitors from across Scotland and beyond. The attraction incudes an ice rink, a festive market, and a range of funfair rides.

Elsewhere, the Scottish city that is the second most likely to experience snowfall this Christmas is Dunfermline. Scotland’s newest city averages 2.27 snow days each December, with an average snow depth of 5.64 centimetres.

Dunfermline Abbey from Pittencrieff Park
Dunfermline sees 2.27 snow days each December on average (Image: Peter Swan / Getty Images)

On Christmas Day, Dunfermline typically experiences a snow depth of 4.28cm. Historically, 9.09 per cent of Dunfermline’s Christmases have been snowy.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh ranks as the Scottish city that is the third-likeliest to see a white Christmas this year. According to Betsson, the capital sees an average of 2.09 snow days each December and an average snow depth of 3.65 centimetres.

Edinburgh’s proximity to the Pentland Hills ensures colder conditions and an elevated chance of snowfall compared to many other destinations. The city is also famed for its seasonal atmosphere and its popular Christmas market.

Other cities in the UK that are likely to wake up to snow this Christmas include Ripon, Bradford, and Leicester. More information can be found on the Betsson website.

The UK cities most likely to have a White Christmas

  1. Aberdeen
  2. Ripon
  3. Bradford
  4. Leicester
  5. York
  6. Newcastle
  7. Dunfermline
  8. Stoke-on-Trent
  9. Durham
  10. Edinburgh

Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – sign up to the Scotland Now newsletter here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts


This will close in 0 seconds