A new UK weather forecast predicts snow hitting 15 major towns and cities later in December as a wintry downpour is anticipated before Christmas.

WXCHARTS maps show snow arriving on Sunday, December 21, with the south of Wales, just to the north of Cardiff, and Chester in northwest England, the main areas affected. A small area of Cumbria around Workington will also be affected, maps suggest. At 6am, Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding areas are expected to take the brunt of the snow. Stafford, Walsall , and Burton are among other areas potentially impacted.

By 9am, maps show snow hitting Birmingham and some nearby areas, as well as Leeds in Yorkshire.

WXCHARTS forecasts that temperatures could drop as low as 4C on December 21.

The Met Office's forecast for December 21 - December 30 does not mention snow.

The agency says periods of rain or showers are expected in the south, with overnight frost and fog, or freezing fog, becoming more widespread.

The forecast adds: "Unsettled conditions are likely to continue at first, with low pressure probably centred somewhere to the southwest of the UK, whilst high pressure tries to nose in from the east across northern areas.

"This means a broadly easterly flow becoming established, whilst periods of rain or showers become increasingly confined to southern or southwestern parts. With time, high pressure is signalled to become rather more dominant with more in the way dry, settled weather anticipated.

"With this, temperatures will probably lower a little compared to recent weeks, closer to or perhaps a little below average for some. Overnight frost and fog or freezing fog could become more widespread, though any particularly cold conditions look unlikely at this stage."