worldweatherChristmas weather in the United Kingdom 2026
A mild afternoon, a frosty morning or rain? Compare previous years before planning your holiday trip and time outdoors.
- London
- Liverpool
- Manchester
- Sheffield
- York
- Cardiff
- Newcastle
- Jersey
- Bristol
- Coventry
No matching destination.
Christmas: what weather is typical? London
Averages and frequencies from 45 completed seasons help you plan your trip.
- Average daytime maximum
- 7.5°CAverage daytime maximum
- Average daily minimum
- 2.7°CAverage daily minimum
- Periods with frost
- 36%16 out of 45 years
- Three days below 1 mm of daily precipitation
- 33%15 out of 45 years
Temperatures day by day
The typical daytime range covers the middle 60% of historical values.
Thursday
7.8°CTypically 4.9-11.1°C in the daytimeFriday
7.4°CTypically 4.7-10.3°C in the daytimeSaturday
7.1°CTypically 3.8-9.6°C in the daytimeLondon: holiday temperatures through the years
Average of the daily maxima over the same three calendar dates each year.
The blue band shows the 20th-80th percentiles of three-day averages in 1991-2020. The chart compares the same dates across past years.
View temperatures for every year
| Year | Average daytime maximum | 5-year average |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0.9°C | - |
| 1982 | 8.1°C | - |
| 1983 | 10.3°C | - |
| 1984 | 6.6°C | - |
| 1985 | 8.7°C | 6.9°C |
| 1986 | 5.1°C | 7.8°C |
| 1987 | 8.6°C | 7.9°C |
| 1988 | 11.2°C | 8°C |
| 1989 | 9.4°C | 8.6°C |
| 1990 | 9.3°C | 8.7°C |
| 1991 | 6.6°C | 9°C |
| 1992 | 4.5°C | 8.2°C |
| 1993 | 2.8°C | 6.5°C |
| 1994 | 6.1°C | 5.9°C |
| 1995 | 2.4°C | 4.5°C |
| 1996 | 1.6°C | 3.4°C |
| 1997 | 11°C | 4.8°C |
| 1998 | 10.8°C | 6.4°C |
| 1999 | 9.6°C | 7.1°C |
| 2000 | 3.4°C | 7.3°C |
| 2001 | 5.4°C | 8.1°C |
| 2002 | 11.6°C | 8.2°C |
| 2003 | 9.3°C | 7.9°C |
| 2004 | 5.6°C | 7.1°C |
| 2005 | 6.7°C | 7.7°C |
| 2006 | 6.2°C | 7.9°C |
| 2007 | 8.1°C | 7.2°C |
| 2008 | 6.1°C | 6.6°C |
| 2009 | 5.8°C | 6.6°C |
| 2010 | 0.5°C | 5.4°C |
| 2011 | 9.4°C | 6°C |
| 2012 | 9.7°C | 6.3°C |
| 2013 | 8.5°C | 6.8°C |
| 2014 | 8.3°C | 7.3°C |
| 2015 | 12.6°C | 9.7°C |
| 2016 | 10.3°C | 9.9°C |
| 2017 | 8.7°C | 9.7°C |
| 2018 | 7.9°C | 9.6°C |
| 2019 | 8.6°C | 9.6°C |
| 2020 | 5.7°C | 8.2°C |
| 2021 | 8.6°C | 7.9°C |
| 2022 | 9.8°C | 8.1°C |
| 2023 | 11.3°C | 8.8°C |
| 2024 | 9.2°C | 8.9°C |
| 2025 | 5.2°C | 8.8°C |
Three-day precipitation total · View temperatures for every year
| Year | Average daytime maximum | Average daily minimum | Three-day precipitation total | Periods with frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5.2°C | 0.2°C | 0.1 mm | Yes |
| 2024 | 9.2°C | 5.4°C | 1.2 mm | No |
| 2023 | 11.3°C | 7.9°C | 5.2 mm | No |
| 2022 | 9.8°C | 5.8°C | 4.5 mm | No |
| 2021 | 8.6°C | 5.4°C | 21.4 mm | No |
| 2020 | 5.7°C | -0.4°C | 2.4 mm | Yes |
| 2019 | 8.6°C | 3.9°C | 6 mm | No |
| 2018 | 7.9°C | 1.5°C | 0.7 mm | No |
| 2017 | 8.7°C | 5.6°C | 15.1 mm | No |
| 2016 | 10.3°C | 4°C | 2.1 mm | No |
| 2015 | 12.6°C | 6.6°C | 5 mm | No |
| 2014 | 8.3°C | 1.8°C | 16.2 mm | No |
| 2013 | 8.5°C | 2.8°C | 13 mm | No |
| 2012 | 9.7°C | 4.7°C | 21.8 mm | No |
| 2011 | 9.4°C | 5.1°C | 1.1 mm | No |
| 2010 | 0.5°C | -3.8°C | 0.3 mm | Yes |
| 2009 | 5.8°C | 1.9°C | 6.7 mm | No |
| 2008 | 6.1°C | 2.7°C | 0.6 mm | Yes |
| 2007 | 8.1°C | 2.1°C | 8 mm | No |
| 2006 | 6.2°C | 3.5°C | 1 mm | No |
| 2005 | 6.7°C | 1.1°C | 1.1 mm | No |
| 2004 | 5.6°C | -0.6°C | 3.5 mm | Yes |
| 2003 | 9.3°C | 6.3°C | 3.9 mm | No |
| 2002 | 11.6°C | 8.2°C | 15.6 mm | No |
| 2001 | 5.4°C | -1.3°C | 4.1 mm | Yes |
| 2000 | 3.4°C | 0.4°C | 13 mm | Yes |
| 1999 | 9.6°C | 4.9°C | 30.9 mm | No |
| 1998 | 10.8°C | 3.5°C | 16.1 mm | Yes |
| 1997 | 11°C | 6.8°C | 14.7 mm | No |
| 1996 | 1.6°C | -2.6°C | 0.2 mm | Yes |
| 1995 | 2.4°C | -2.9°C | 2.6 mm | Yes |
| 1994 | 6.1°C | 0.5°C | 7.7 mm | Yes |
| 1993 | 2.8°C | -1.6°C | 1.3 mm | Yes |
| 1992 | 4.5°C | 0.2°C | 0.7 mm | Yes |
| 1991 | 6.6°C | 1.6°C | 0.8 mm | No |
| 1990 | 9.3°C | 2.8°C | 21.9 mm | No |
| 1989 | 9.4°C | 6.5°C | 5.8 mm | No |
| 1988 | 11.2°C | 7°C | 2.5 mm | No |
| 1987 | 8.6°C | 4.3°C | 1.7 mm | No |
| 1986 | 5.1°C | -0.6°C | 12.6 mm | Yes |
| 1985 | 8.7°C | 4.4°C | 32.4 mm | No |
| 1984 | 6.6°C | 0.1°C | 8.2 mm | Yes |
| 1983 | 10.3°C | 6.2°C | 8 mm | No |
| 1982 | 8.1°C | 4.6°C | 2.3 mm | No |
| 1981 | 0.9°C | -3.3°C | 1.3 mm | Yes |
How often does it rain during this period?
At least one day with precipitation ≥1 mm
67%Rain or snow, measured as the equivalent amount of water.
Three days below 1 mm of daily precipitation
33%Daily precipitation stayed below 1 mm on all three days.
At least one day with precipitation ≥10 mm
22%A larger daily precipitation total during the three-day period.
How often does frost occur?
Periods with frost
36%At least one daily minimum below 0°C.
All three days stay below freezing
0%The daily maximum remains below 0°C on all three days.
Temperature crosses 0°C during the day
36%The daily minimum was below zero and the maximum above zero on the same day.
The warmest and coolest days in this period
London · 1981-2025
Highest daily maximum in the records.
Lowest daily maximum in the selected historical period.
Lowest daily minimum across the selected calendar dates.
Extremes in NASA POWER grid data for the selected location and historical period.
How has holiday weather changed since the 1980s?
Average daytime maximum: 7.8°C in 1981-1990 and 8.5°C in 2016-2025. Difference: +0.7°C.
Daytime temperature
Periods with frost
At least one day with precipitation ≥1 mm
A comparison of two decades describes the past. Differences over a short three-day period can be large and do not determine the weather in 2026.
Christmas: destination comparison - United Kingdom
The same dates, different conditions. Averages for 24 December - 26 December in 1981-2025. Choose a city to explore its history above.
| City or region | Average daytime maximum | Average daily minimum | At least one day with precipitation ≥1 mm | Periods with frost | Warmest period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey | 9.4°C | 6.9°C | 78% | 0% | 13°C 2015 |
| Cardiff | 7.7°C | 3.9°C | 76% | 24% | 12°C 2015 |
| Bristol | 7.6°C | 3.2°C | 71% | 36% | 12.1°C 2015 |
| London | 7.5°C | 2.7°C | 67% | 36% | 12.6°C 2015 |
| Liverpool | 7.1°C | 3.8°C | 80% | 20% | 11.5°C 2015 |
| Coventry | 6.6°C | 2°C | 67% | 40% | 11.9°C 2015 |
| Sheffield | 6.3°C | 1.7°C | 69% | 42% | 11.5°C 2015 |
| Manchester | 6.1°C | 2.3°C | 82% | 36% | 11°C 2015 |
| York | 6.1°C | 1.6°C | 73% | 42% | 11.2°C 2015 |
| Newcastle | 5.7°C | 1.9°C | 82% | 47% | 10.1°C 2011 |
At least one daily minimum below 0°C. Rain or snow, measured as the equivalent amount of water. Average of the daily maxima over the same three calendar dates each year.
What should you check before travelling?
Mild afternoons can be followed by frost at night or in the early morning. Current forecasts show temperatures, precipitation and wind along the route.
When should you check the forecast?
- Now: compare typical conditions
- About two weeks before: check the city forecast; details can still change.
- 1-3 days before: check departure-time temperatures, precipitation, wind and warnings again.
Weather questions · Christmas 2026
What will the weather be like for Christmas in 2026?
Historical temperatures and precipitation show the range of conditions in past years. The city forecast covers the coming two weeks and is updated as the travel date approaches.
Will Christmas 2026 be white?
Snow on the ground is shown by current snow-cover observations. Here you can compare historical temperatures, frost frequency and total precipitation around Christmas.
Does a warm August or September mean warm holiday weather?
Similar late summers can be followed by very different holiday weather. We compare the same holiday dates across years to show the range of temperatures and precipitation frequencies.
Are these temperatures the same across the country?
The city selector changes the main comparison. The table shows each location separately. Coastal, inland and mountain conditions can differ greatly.
Where do the figures come from?
NASA POWER Daily API. NASA POWER daily MERRA-2 grid data, 1981-2025. All 45 three-day periods are complete for every location shown. The same calendar dates are compared each year: 24 December - 26 December. Daily maxima and minima are averaged across each period. The frequencies show how often conditions occurred in the historical data. Precipitation includes rain and snow as water equivalent.
The 1991-2020 normal is a fixed 30-year chart reference. Other figures use the selected historical period; decade comparisons always use 1981-1990 and 2016-2025.
For comparison, see the same weather analysis for Poland.