What are your chances of experiencing a white Christmas this year?
By
Jillian MacMath, AccuWeather staff writer
Updated Nov 11, 2020 8:38 PM EST
This map shows the historical probability, based on 30-year averages, of a white Christmas across the U.S. using the National Weather Service's benchmark of an inch of snow on the ground during the morning of Dec. 25. (AccuWeather / NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center)
With less than a month to go until Dec. 25, many Americans are beginning to deck the halls, play the Hallmark Channel non-stop and fill their homes with holiday tunes. The sights and sounds of the season often conjure up scenes of a white Christmas -- and just in time, AccuWeather's annual white Christmas outlook is here.
AccuWeather meteorologists say the chances for a white Christmas are high across much of the West, the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest.
But for many Americans dreaming of a white Christmas, hopes may be dashed across most of the East, where milder air could prevent snow from forming.
According to the National Weather Service, to officially qualify for a white Christmas, a location must have an inch of snow on the ground at some point during the morning on Dec. 25.
Take a look below at a complete region-by-region breakdown.
Chances slim across the eastern United States
Despite a decent probability for snow along the I-95 corridor in most years, this winter will fail to provide the necessary ingredients.
“I do not see snow on the ground around the I-95 corridor, especially from New York City on south. Chances for a white Christmas are low,” AccuWeather Expert Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok said.
While many years with a similar atmospheric setup — known as analog years — had storm systems coming through around Christmas, the air was too mild to yield snowfall.
The same is likely again this year, he said.
Similarly, chances will be low for the southern Appalachians, mid-Atlantic and Southeast this Christmas.
But those living in the central Appalachians region will have higher chances -- around 40 to 50 percent -- of seeing snow on Christmas.
Many Americans have better chances for a Christmasy scene like this in 2019, but those in other places are likely to be left dreaming of a white Christmas this year. (Kristen Prahl / iStock / Getty Images)
For the Ohio Valley, a milder period preceding Christmas will likely melt off any snow, with the exception of the lake-effect region of northeastern Ohio.
But it’s too soon to rule out fresh flakes falling around these areas during the holiday, Pastelok added.
Snow possible for the Plains and Midwest
Chances for snow are forecast to be lower than normal this Christmas from the northern High Plains to just east of the Rockies.
“But I feel good about the Upper Midwest,” Pastelok said.
For the East and some parts of the north-central U.S., the chances for a white Christmas are down a little this year compared to average. (alex_ugalek / iStock / Getty Images)
A milder period predicted in mid-December and close to the Christmas week may cause snow to melt across the lower Midwest, northern Plains and just east of the Rockies.
“However, it may be replenished just before Christmas in the far northern Plains and Upper Midwest, in particular,” he said.
Elsewhere in the Plains, less than a 50 percent chance exists, particularly in central and southern areas.
Best chances for a white Christmas rest in the West and at higher elevations
The Sierra and central and southern Rockies have a high chance of maintaining snowpack throughout the holiday.
The same is true around Denver, and the mountains westward, as well as areas north and east of Salt Lake City, Utah, Pastelok said.
“The Cascades are also likely to have some snow, but in lower elevations east of the range, across eastern Oregon, southeast Washington and into the Great Basin, chances are low,” he added.
“These areas are historically in the 25- to 50-percent ranges and I lean lower, toward 25 percent, at this point.”
Download the free AccuWeather app to get a more detailed forecast for your area. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Winter Weather
What are your chances of experiencing a white Christmas this year?
By Jillian MacMath, AccuWeather staff writer
Updated Nov 11, 2020 8:38 PM EST
This map shows the historical probability, based on 30-year averages, of a white Christmas across the U.S. using the National Weather Service's benchmark of an inch of snow on the ground during the morning of Dec. 25. (AccuWeather / NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center)
With less than a month to go until Dec. 25, many Americans are beginning to deck the halls, play the Hallmark Channel non-stop and fill their homes with holiday tunes. The sights and sounds of the season often conjure up scenes of a white Christmas -- and just in time, AccuWeather's annual white Christmas outlook is here.
AccuWeather meteorologists say the chances for a white Christmas are high across much of the West, the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest.
But for many Americans dreaming of a white Christmas, hopes may be dashed across most of the East, where milder air could prevent snow from forming.
According to the National Weather Service, to officially qualify for a white Christmas, a location must have an inch of snow on the ground at some point during the morning on Dec. 25.
Take a look below at a complete region-by-region breakdown.
Chances slim across the eastern United States
Despite a decent probability for snow along the I-95 corridor in most years, this winter will fail to provide the necessary ingredients.
“I do not see snow on the ground around the I-95 corridor, especially from New York City on south. Chances for a white Christmas are low,” AccuWeather Expert Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok said.
While many years with a similar atmospheric setup — known as analog years — had storm systems coming through around Christmas, the air was too mild to yield snowfall.
The same is likely again this year, he said.
Similarly, chances will be low for the southern Appalachians, mid-Atlantic and Southeast this Christmas.
But those living in the central Appalachians region will have higher chances -- around 40 to 50 percent -- of seeing snow on Christmas.
Many Americans have better chances for a Christmasy scene like this in 2019, but those in other places are likely to be left dreaming of a white Christmas this year. (Kristen Prahl / iStock / Getty Images)
For the Ohio Valley, a milder period preceding Christmas will likely melt off any snow, with the exception of the lake-effect region of northeastern Ohio.
But it’s too soon to rule out fresh flakes falling around these areas during the holiday, Pastelok added.
Related:
Snow possible for the Plains and Midwest
Chances for snow are forecast to be lower than normal this Christmas from the northern High Plains to just east of the Rockies.
“But I feel good about the Upper Midwest,” Pastelok said.
For the East and some parts of the north-central U.S., the chances for a white Christmas are down a little this year compared to average. (alex_ugalek / iStock / Getty Images)
A milder period predicted in mid-December and close to the Christmas week may cause snow to melt across the lower Midwest, northern Plains and just east of the Rockies.
“However, it may be replenished just before Christmas in the far northern Plains and Upper Midwest, in particular,” he said.
Elsewhere in the Plains, less than a 50 percent chance exists, particularly in central and southern areas.
Best chances for a white Christmas rest in the West and at higher elevations
The Sierra and central and southern Rockies have a high chance of maintaining snowpack throughout the holiday.
The same is true around Denver, and the mountains westward, as well as areas north and east of Salt Lake City, Utah, Pastelok said.
“The Cascades are also likely to have some snow, but in lower elevations east of the range, across eastern Oregon, southeast Washington and into the Great Basin, chances are low,” he added.
“These areas are historically in the 25- to 50-percent ranges and I lean lower, toward 25 percent, at this point.”
Download the free AccuWeather app to get a more detailed forecast for your area. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo