Looking at the latest model output, the outlook is a generally unsettled one with numerous low pressure systems moving in from off the Atlantic during the foreseeable future. There is quite a lot of that model output which is showing these low pressure systems taking a more southerly track at times. This then raises the possibility of cold easterly winds over Scotland in particular when that happens with the result that some of the rain from these systems could then fall as sleet or snow on the northern edge of those more southerly tracking systems.

Because of that and since we are now about to enter the meteorological winter, I thought that this would be a good time to start this thread in order to discuss either those prospects, or any other snow potential prospects which would otherwise be discussed in the MO thread. This is in like with other similar threads which were started for that same purpose during previous winters, with the purpose of this thread being to discuss those potential snow prospects as they come up in terms of the model output whilst any actual snow reports and pictures will go into another separate thread which will be created for that very purpose.

I'm wondering whether or not, there is enough of a snow potential at the end of the week for this thread to become relevant for that discussion.

This will be a very short thread 

Yes, I kind of gathered that from your last comment in the MO thread regarding that same event which I'm referring to, but this is a far cry from this time last year when these threads and the accompanying snow reports thread were much busier and more in demand.

That in turn, shows just how much of a complete non-event, this so-called "winter" has been so far.

It's only in it's 9th day, give it a chance!

I am giving it a chance. I have only described what it has been like so far and have not suggested anywhere, that the rest of the winter will be like that.

I’d complain and ask for your money back if I was you... 

You’ll just need to prove that it’s written somewhere that the opening days of December ‘should’ be cold and noteworthy 

I’m not sure the first 8 days of December are renowned for their wintriness in the U.K.? I suspect the first 8 days of spring (March) are more likely to be wintry.

That is actually a very good point there, since it is statistically the case that we actually have a better chance of getting a white Easter than we do of getting a white Christmas, especially in a year where Easter comes about as early as it can (i.e. not long after the Northern Hemisphere Vernal Equinox).

Yet, Easter falls within both the meteorological spring (since it occurs after 1 March) and the astronomical spring (since it occurs after the Northern Hemisphere Vernal Equinox) whereas Christmas falls within both the meteorological winter (since it occurs after 1 December) and the astronomical winter (since it occurs after the Northern Hemisphere winter solstice).

Because of that, I always consider it to be crazy that you have a better chance on average of getting snow on one event which occurs during the spring, than what you do on a certain other event which happens during the winter because in my book, this is when you would expect it to be the coldest time of the year whereas in the spring, you are expecting it to be warming up again.

I've just watched the video forecast on the home page of the MO website and the outlook included a 'chance of hill snow'.  I guess that will be for the Scottish mountains, at least.

The potential is certainly there for a snow event (first trough disrupter/fader or second trough more dymdmuc transient) at some point later this week and for some area. The rather uncertain nature and location of said snow event reflects the uncertainty in the forecast - and I wouldn’t say ‘chance if hill snow’ necessarily means the mountains.

If some of the output is to believed many ‘hills’ could see snow this week.

Ironically as the colder air sweeps - or seeps? in, the air dries out and any rain quickly dissipates. Im sure if there was something with a little more punch would probably have a bit more of a chatter on here.

as it stands though, the LP that dives into France is expected to quickly become a dry affair, and as such no real venom in it to really get going with any snow. This could change, mind. There is also that LP which does have a bit more oomph to it, - will that begin to show signs of diving into Europe too? In which case will it follow the same fate?

edit:

Lol, finished typing that - went to look at the 6Z run which has progressed beyond Thursday.  Wales looks like it might get a bit more than i originally suggested.

Remember as well that if you do see any snow in your area, there is always this thread which I created some time ago for the purpose of reporting that.

In order for that thread to be relevant, you don't necessarily need to have snow actually lying in your area as long as you have seen at least one snowflake (even if that is just part of what is actually sleet with most of that made up from rain), or have seen some snow lying in a nearby location such as over a range of hills which is not far from your own location and which can be seen from there.

The reason why I have brought this up because there was one member who recently commented in that day's CC thread that they had an unexpected snow shower and whilst it was fine to report that there, this is also a good example of where the snow reports thread which I have linked to would have been a good place to report that as well.