THE Met Office has said that the chances of a white Christmas in Cornwall is unlikely.

After a recent battering from the weather, leading to flooding and some roads resembling rivers, things are about to get better, albeit colder.

In the forecast for the Christmas Week, the Met Office has said that there could be colder, more settled conditions expected around Christmas Day as high pressure dominates.

On Christmas Eve (Wednesday), temperatures will fall as high pressure brings drier, more settled conditions with chilly easterly winds.

Christmas Day is expected to be mostly dry with variable amounts of cloud and sunny spells in places. A few light showers are possible, particularly along southwestern coasts later in the day. Daytime temperatures could be as low as 2°C but will feel colder in the strong easterly breeze.

Paul Gundersen, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “The question we get most at this time of year is about the chance of snow on Christmas Day. There’s a small chance of light showers, which, if they occur, will be a mix of rain, sleet and some snow over higher ground. The chance is relatively low as it stands, and there are no strong signals for significant or widespread snowfall.

"As always, we advise everyone to keep up to date with the latest Met Office forecasts and warnings, especially if you’re making plans over the festive period.”

For the Met Office to declare a ‘white Christmas’, a single snowflake must be observed falling during the 24 hours of December 25, either by an official Met Office observer or by a Met Office automated weather station.

Beyond Christmas, high pressure is likely to remain close to the UK in the run-up to the New Year, bringing largely settled conditions with frost and fog in places.