The Met Office said data for the weeks ahead showed that downpours were more likely than snow.

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Forecaster Stephen Dixon said: “We’re looking for trends. And what we’ve seen in recent weeks looks like it will be continuing.

“We reckon we’ll see more wet and windy conditions this month.

“There are some signals of cooler spells, but at this stage it looks like rain is more likely than snow.”

The Met Office used to record a white Christmas if a snowflake fell on their headquarters in London.

But since they moved to Devon, all that is needed is a single snowflake falling in the UK in the 24 hours of December 25.

There have been six white Christmases in the past eight years.

Last year, nine per cent of weather stations recorded snow falling but none saw snow settling.

Since 1960, there have been only four years when at least 40 per cent of weather stations reported snow on the ground at 9am on December 25 — 1981, 1995, 2009 and 2010.

But bookies Ladbrokes were hopeful and slashed their odds on snowfall in the UK this Christmas to 1/2.

Spokesman Alex Apati said: “Punters dreaming of a white Christmas are odds-on to get their wish.”

After heavy downpours, the Met Office has issued more rain and wind warnings for this weekend.

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