How Unusual was this Year's Christmas Snow?
Dec 27, 2010; 12:21 PM ET
A home in Ringgold, Ga. with 3.5 inches on the ground Christmas Day. Photo submitted by AccuWeather.com Facebook fan William M.
Before much of the Northeast was hit with a debilitating blizzard, millions of people across the country enjoyed a white Christmas.
However, although the snow cover this year was less than it was last year, this year's snow was unique and rare due to the fact that snow reached as far as the Deep South, something that did not occur last year.
The average snow coverage by Christmas Day is usually between 25 and 35 percent, according to Meteorologist Heather Buchman.
According to the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC), 50.2 percent of the contiguous United States had snow cover on Christmas morning, confirming AccuWeather.com Chief Long Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi's forecast. Bastardi has been calling for more than 50 percent snow coverage on Christmas day since the beginning of December.
This map shows snow cover on the morning of Dec. 25, 2010. Courtesy of NOHRSC.
In addition, at least 46 states reported snowfall and/or snow cover within their borders on Christmas Day. This includes Hawaii, Georgia and Alabama.
The morning of December 26 had 52.9 percent snow cover, owing to the fact that many areas in the East and South had snowfall during Christmas Day.
This percentage is considerably less than Christmas morning 2009, when 63 percent of the Lower 48 had snow cover. With the exception of Texas, most of the South remained untouched.
This map shows snow cover on the morning of Dec. 25, 2009. Courtesy of NOHRSC.
By Gina Cherundolo, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 107° | Death Valley, CA |
| Low | 28° | Daniel, WY |
| Precip | 2.39" | Alexandria, MN |
WeatherWhys®
People need to pay close attention to the UV index during this time of year. On a sunny day late in the spring and into the summer, the UV is usually at least an 8, which is very high. Readings over 11 are considered extreme values in which only 10 minutes of full exposure to the sun will produce a sunburn.
This Day In Weather History
New Hampshire (1814)
A tornado crossed Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry and North Chester. The same storm produced hailstones that had an 11-inch circumference and weighed 1/2 pound.
Northeast (1989)
More rain in an already wet month. Monthly totals topped 11 inches at New York City, 9 inches at Bridgeport, Conn., and 8 inches at Baltimore (all three totals set records for May).
Rough Weather
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