Who's Getting a White Christmas This Year?

When you go to bed tonight, the question on everyone’s mind will finally have an answer: Will I have a White Christmas?

Although there is no official definition, we will use the threshold of a measurable blanket of snow on the ground at wake-up time on Christmas morning.

Not surprisingly, the most likely spots to enjoy a White Christmas this year are those in the mountains. It is pretty much a certainty the Cascades, Sierra and Rockies will be snow-covered come Monday morning. This extends into parts of Utah and New Mexico, where the peaks of the mountains will be white.
 
The best chances in the Upper Midwest for a White Christmas will be across North Dakota and northern Minnesota, where the snowpack has withstood a thaw this week. Fresh snow will be arriving in South Dakota and Nebraska overnight, so chances are improving to have some snow on the ground.
 
Likewise, the snowpack in the mountains of West Virginia, upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine will be holding on for dear life as temperatures surge well above freezing. A few spots have a large enough snowpack to maintain a White Christmas, while sun-drenched spots may be a bit bare.
 
Unfortunately, for a large expanse of the country this year, it will be just dreaming of a White Christmas, as the ground remains soggy and muddy. This includes most of the East from southern New England to the Southeast, most of the Mississippi Valley and lower elevations of the Southwest.


Check back frequently to WeatherBug for the latest on your chances for a White Christmas through the holiday weekend. From all of us at WeatherBug, Happy Holidays!