The experts at OLBG have profiled the latest betting odds and statistics surrounding the chances of a White Christmas taking place in 2023 - and there's a 14.30% chance of snow in Birmingham, so it's not looking particularly promising at this moment in time.
Winters in Birmingham are generally mild, but snowfall can occur during colder periods, particularly between December and February. On average, Birmingham receives around 10-15 days of snowfall per year, with the snow typically lasting for a short period before melting.
Birmingham receives 1.6 inches of snow on average, with nearly one half (0.6 inches) falling in the first month of the year. 11.80 inches of snow fell in January 1936. An inch of snow or more falls generally every five years or so in Birmingham in January. January is the cloudiest month of the year.
A trace of snow fell in Birmingham on Dec. 25, 1989. Birmingham also records a trace of snow on Christmas Days in 1993 and 1899, but there are no truly remarkable snowfall reports for the Magic City on Dec. 25.
During the coldest night recorded, 14 January 1982, the temperature fell to −20.8 °C (−5.4 °F) at Birmingham Airport, but just −14.3 °C (6.3 °F) at Edgbaston, near the city centre. Birmingham is a snowy city relative to other large UK conurbations, due to its inland location and comparatively high elevation.
Exact date 'snow bomb' to hit UK as Birmingham faces arctic freeze
Which UK city is coldest?
The UK's Top 10 Coldest Cities
It probably won't come as a surprise that the coldest cities are all in the north of the UK. Newry and Aberdeen take top spot, with an average day time temperature of 10.58°C.
Birmingham offers four distinct seasons to residents and visitors and is one of the few cities in the United States that follows the 'earth science calendar' - meaning it has four seasons of almost equal length starting in March, June, September and December.
For Birmingham, where nearly 100 years of weather records exist, there has never been a white Christmas in the classic sense. Perhaps the closest resemblance to a white Christmas in Birmingham, in recent years, was December, 2010.
Met Office forecasters confirmed "some snow falling across the Scottish high ground" just after midday on Monday. Christmas 2023 is officially a white one - despite parts of the country reaching the highest minimum daily temperature on record for 25 December.
Although summers are long and hot, they are not generally excessively hot. On a typical mid-summer day, the temperature will be nearly 70 degrees at daybreak, approach 90 degrees at mid-day, and level off in the low 90s during the afternoon.
Home to some of the highest peaks in the UK, Cumbria, and in particular the Lake District and the North Pennines, is also often topped with snow during the winter months. For a village scene dusted in snow, head to the village of Alston, the highest village in England, found a thousand feet above sea level.
However for the UK, being an island surrounded by the milder water, the air can often warm up slightly before it reaches our shores, and we often see rain rather than snow, or, even trickier to forecast; a mix of rain, sleet and snow.
So, although some milder and unsettled weather appears likely, there could be prolonged spells of drier weather as high pressure becomes dominant. It could turn cold at times with the more blocked weather too, though confidence is low on how cold and where may be coldest and see risk of wintry weather.
It doesn't snow in London very often – the last major snowfall was in 2009. But there is usually at least a small snow flurry for a few days most years, generally between November and April. It last snowed in London in January 2024.
The climate of Birmingham is oceanic, with quite cold, rainy winters and mild, relatively rainy summers. The city is located in west-central England, in the West Midlands, at an altitude of 140 meters (460 feet).
Snow, sleet and rain moved across parts of Scotland, with Tulloch Bridge and Aviemore recording snowflakes, the Met Office said. The forecaster said this made Christmas Day 2023 an “official white Christmas”, which is defined by at least one snowflake falling on 25 December.
Technically, 2022 was the last white Christmas in the UK with 9% of stations recording snow falling, although none reported any snow lying on the ground.
When did it last snow on Christmas Day in Birmingham UK?
Nothing makes Christmas more magical than waking up a picturesque dusting of snow on the big day. But a proper White Christmas is something we haven't seen for over a decade now. The last time we saw a White Christmas in Birmingham was 2010. This was when snow was widespread across the UK.
According to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, the lowest temperature recorded in Birmingham was a frigid -6° on January 21, 1985.
The coldest month is January, with a low of 26 F and an average temperature of 39 F. Snow is relatively rare, although it does occasionally snow in Birmingham during the winter months (and wet, rainy days are common). Snow can impact driving conditions, so be sure to check for road closures if you have a rental car.
London can be noticeably warmer than Birmingham in summer. For example, it's common in summer for London to get days like 25c and sunny, whilst Birmingham is 21c and cloudy. Average temps are about 1.5C higher in London, I doubt anyone could tell the difference.
The best times to visit Birmingham are spring and fall, from March through May or September through November. Not only are these shoulder seasons easy on the wallet, but the weather is also great for outdoor activities like hiking and golfing.
