In a typical year, the northern third of the nation has at least a 50/50 chance of seeing a White Christmas. Almost two-thirds has at least a 5% chance. The best chance to see a white landscape on December 25th is in the mountains of the West, and the northern tier of the country from northeastern North Dakota eastward along the Canadian border to northern New England.
But this year, most of the nation has a ways to go to get a White Christmas. Outside of the western mountains, most of the ground is bare as of mid month. The last storm system to track through the Midwest had so much warm air that most of the precipitation fell as rain in places like Minneapolis, Des Moines and Chicago.
Snow Depth 12-16-2011 - NOAA NOHRSC
Snow lovers will may have something to look forward to next week. Long-range computer models are hinting at a more active storm track across the central U.S.. If there’s enough cold air for these storms to work with, snow may be on the way. Great for a White Christmas but not the best news for holiday travelers.
Written by Don Moldenhauer, My-Cast Meteorologist
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