Satellite image of the UK, 24th December 2011 - Copyright Dundee Satellite Receiving Station

Will it snow?

The best way to find out is to look at the forecast charts at
http://www.netweather.tv/index.cgi?action=nwdc;sess=
and select 'HGT 500-1000' from the 'select chart type' menu
If the 528dam line is South of where you are, and there is a forecast of precipitation, then that precipitation is likely to be snow.

What is the 528dam line?

528dam = 5280m
It is the vertical distance between the 1000mb height (somewhere near the ground) and the 500mb height (somewhere in the middle of the troposphere). As warm air is less dense than cold air, the smaller this distance, the colder the air is.

It is also worth having a look at a cross section through the atmosphere for example at http://www.wetter3.de/ - select 'Vertikalschnitte' which gives a longtitude/ height cross section for 50N. The air between the clouds and the ground has to be cold for snow to reach the ground.

When do we get snow in the UK?

A nice explanation of why we had such a different November in 2011 to the weather in November 2010 from the Met Office and a report on the 2010 snow and its impacts on the UK.

And an article written about some of the work experience students we have had at the Society about whether or not we'll have a White Christmas with more from the BBC.