It could be a white Christmas for many northern states in the U.S. this year, with 16 states predicted to see snow during the holiday.
Much of the country is already feeling the effects of an unusual winter blizzard that began the week before Christmas, and while the storm is expected to pass by Christmas Eve, snow and freezing temperatures will still be in the forecast for many. Christmas weekend.
“Compared to the days leading up to Christmas, Christmas Day looks pretty quiet,” Accuweather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kins told USA Today. “It’s Christmas Day, all things considered, it’s not too bad.”
This year will be “hugely different” than last year, when much of the country saw no snow during the holidays.
Here’s what to know about a white Christmas this year:
What is a white Christmas?
When it snows on Christmas Day — or if there’s snow on the ground — it’s a white Christmas. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Association defines a white Christmas as at least one inch of snow on the ground.
Where is White Christmas in 2022?
16 states will have snow on Christmas According to Accuweather forecasts through Tuesday afternoon. Snow is expected in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, and Northeast of the United States. Major cities like Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Buffalo, Anchorage and Helena saw snow.
Here are the states and regions most likely to see snow on Christmas, according to Accuweather:
- Southern and Eastern Alaska
- Eastern Washington State
- Northeast Oregon
- North and Southeast Idaho
- Northwestern and Central Montana
- Northeast Wyoming
- Northern Wisconsin
- Michigan
- Northern and Central Illinois
- Almost all of Ohio
- Almost all of West Virginia
- Northern and Western Pennsylvania
- Almost all of New York State except southeastern New York
- Northern Vermont
- Northern and Central New Hampshire
- Northern and Eastern Maine
If your area isn’t listed here, it doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on a white Christmas. If there is still snow on the ground from a winter storm, it counts.
“It’s going to be the majority of the country that will have snow on Christmas Day. Probably two-thirds of the country,” Kins said.
According to The Weather Channel, if snow isn’t expected in your area, temperatures will at least be cooler. Temperatures are expected to top 80 degrees in the Los Angeles area alone.
Where does White Christmas often occur?
A white Christmas is a rare occurrence for some, and almost a guarantee for others. Snow on Christmas usually occurs in the northern part of the United States, and NOAA says that’s where you can expect the most.
According to data from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information from 1991-2020, 14 states have at least a 90% historical probability of at least one inch of snow on the ground, while 25 states have less than 10%. Historical probability of snow presence.
Some states — such as California, Utah, and Washington — have areas with a greater than 90% chance and areas with less than a 10% chance.
Here are the states with areas that have a 90% historical probability of snow on the ground on Christmas:
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- Utah
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Wyoming
- Montana
- North Dakota
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- New York
- New Hampshire
- Maine
If you want to check the probability of your area, you can do so here.
US Weather Radar
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Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.
