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Winter solstice

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Derek Brockway Derek Brockway | 12:50 UK time, Monday, 21 December 2009

Today is the winter solstice - the shortest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere, and some people take today as the start of winter.

There's certainly a wintry look to our weather at the moment but I think we've seen the worst of the snow in Wales for the time being.

Steve Davies took this photo whilst walking his dog above Maesteg this morning:
snow_steve_davies.jpg

Over the next few days it's going to stay cold side with a few wintry showers, some sunshine and frost and if you're travelling - watch out for ice and a few freezing fog patches as well.

Most people hope it will snow on Christmas Day but it's pretty rare. So where does our idea of snow at Christmas come from? Charles Dickens who wrote 'A Christmas Carol' back in 1843 may be to blame...

When Dickens was a school boy, winters were much colder and snow more common at Christmas compared to nowadays.

In more recent times, cinema, television and music have all helped to make sure the idea of snow at Christmas is etched into our minds.

Mind you, as climate change gathers pace, songs such as 'White Christmas' by Bing Crosby maybe something only dreams are made of in the future.

If you are dreaming of a white Christmas in Wales this year, it looks like it will be chilly with some frost and sunshine.

A few showers are likely but with slightly higher temperatures most of these will fall as rain with any snow confined to the high ground.

So if you happen to live on the side of a hill or mountain you might be lucky and have a white Christmas.

This is probably my last blog for 2009.Ìý

I hope you've enjoyed reading them and thanks to all of you for your contributions and photographs. Please keep them coming in 2010.

I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a healthy and Happy New Year with lots of interesting weather!

¶Ù±ð°ù±ð°ìÌý

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