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New forecast map predicts only 18 US states will have a white Christmas

December, 24, 2024-03:40

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New forecast map predicts only 18 US states will have a white Christmas:

Most people dream of a white Christmas, but the holiday forecast suggests that only Americans in 18 states have a high chance of waking up to snow. AccuWeather meteorologists report that snow is 'a guarantee' across the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains, which span Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. On the West Coast, large swaths of California, Oregon, and Washington are also likely to see snow on Christmas Day.

                Chances are looking good throughout much of the Northeast as well, particularly in parts of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Pennsylvania. Northern parts of the Midwest, including areas in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and the northeast corner of Ohio, also have a strong chance of snow. To qualify as a white Christmas, there must be at least one inch of snow on the ground on the morning of December 25.

                  However, Jared Rennie, a physical scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), told DailyMail.com that southern states like Florida, Alabama, and Texas basically have a 'zero chance' of experiencing a white Christmas.
While forecasts are always subject to change, experts have been tracking white Christmases across the country since 1981. This historical data provides a good indication of which regions are more likely to see snow on the holidayThe map shows that it's highly unlikely for southern states to have accumulated snow on December 25 in any given year.

                    From Malibu to Miami and as far north as Virginia, states have a close-to-zero chance. The coasts of California, Oregon and Washington are also unlikely to see snow on Christmas, even though these are northern states. That's mainly due to their maritime climate, which is characterized by mild temperatures even in winter. But further inland, especially in and around the Rocky Mountains, the odds of having a white Christmas drastically increase, ranging from roughly 40 to 100 percent as the elevation skyrockets. Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado all have historically high chances of accumulated snow on December 25. Much of the Midwest shows similar odds, especially in North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan.