Why White Christmases in Britain could soon melt into the past

UK Met Office predicts only higher ground will experience freezing temperatures by 2080 owing to global climate emergency

A man walks alongside Brun Clough Reservoir as snow falls above the village of Delph, near Manchester in northern England. AFP

A dog writhes in the snow near Brun Clough Reservoir. AFP

Dave Baptie works in the snow at the Hill End Christmas Tree Centre near Edinburgh, Scotland. AP Photo

Two people walk through the woodland as snow falls in the village of Marsden, near Manchester. AFP

A man walks alongside Brun Clough Reservoir in snowy and foggy conditions above the village of Delph, near Manchester. AFP

A signpost marking the Pennine Way footpath is in covered with snow as a gritting lorry drives along the A62 above the village of Delph. AFP

Snow-covered homes are illuminated at dusk in the village of Marsden, near Manchester. AFP

A woman walks along the platform of the railway station as snow falls in the village of Marsden, near Manchester. AFP

A jogger makes her way along the Pennine Way footpath in snowy conditions above the village of Delph. AFP

A tree stands out in a snow covered field near Ashford in Kent. AP Photo

By the end of the century snow may no longer settle on the ground in Britain as the climate crisis results in warmer and wetter winters, a new study has revealed.

Research by the Met Office suggests traditional winter pastimes such as building snowmen, sledging and throwing snowballs could die out unless action is taken to tackle rising greenhouse gas emissions.

Extreme weather events, such as turbulent storms and sweltering summer heatwaves, could be an unwanted side effect of the changing meteorological patterns.

The findings, which will feature on BBC's Panorama on Monday, suggest that by the 2040s the south of England may no longer experience any days when temperatures drop to freezing or below, while only elevated ground way above sea level, such as the Scottish Highlands, will experience freezing temperatures by 2080.

Meanwhile, summer temperatures will continue to rise in the coming decades, extending the recent trend of sunnier, drier weather, although the regional effect could vary.

The Met Office said the study assumes that global emissions will continue to rise for the rest of the century, and experts acknowledged that while their prediction may not be the most likely outcome, it is a credible scenario.

Weather forecasters said that while Britain could avoid a major rise in temperatures if carbon emissions are reduced, average temperatures are still likely to increase.

Senior Met Office scientist Dr Lizzie Kendon told Panorama the prediction was a "wake-up call".

“We’re saying by the end of the century much of the lying snow will have disappeared entirely, except over the highest ground,” she said.

“The overarching picture is warmer, wetter winters; hotter, drier summers. But within that, we get this shift towards more extreme events, more frequent and intense extremes, so heavier rainfall when it occurs. It’s a big change ... in the course of our lifetime.”