The weather is turning colder with a chance of night frosts, but snow is unlikely well into December, the KNMI weather bureau said on Friday.

Temperatures in the coming days are set to remain no higher than 5 Celsius and it will remain mainly dry, despite the cloud, the KNMI said. There will be light frosts at night, particularly outside the cities and in sheltered areas.

The KNMI’s long term forecast, which runs until December 16, is for more of the same – chilly days and slight frosts at night.

Weerplaza paints a similar picture, saying that the very cold weather currently in north western Russia will not reach the Netherlands as skating fans had hoped.

However, there may be some snow or sleet in the south at times, Weerplaza said.

Weeronline has looked forward to Christmas. On average, the forecaster says, temperatures at the end of the month are around 6 Celsius during the day and 1 Celsius at night.

A white Christmas requires it to turn cold at exactly the right moment and the chances of this happening are statistically 7%, Weeronline said. ‘But this year it is not going to be mild, so those who love a white Christmas can keep hoping.’