Dreams of a white Christmas have been dashed for most of us, as the nation could see the least snowy Christmas day on modern records. But a last-minute snowstorm will likely make those dreams come true for some people.
“Some people are going to get their dream and their wish, and they're going to have a white Christmas at the last minute,” said Judah Cohen, director of seasonal forecasting at Verisk Atmospheric and Environmental Research. “But most of the country will have a brown Christmas.”
How brown? As of Friday, December 22, only 13.2% of the contiguous United States was covered in snow, according to the National Weather Service. If this figure continues or falls, the country will have the lowest snow cover on Christmas Day since accurate records began 20 years ago.
The weather service also isn't predicting a white Christmas for much of the country. But on the bright side, “at least the weather is favorable for most people who plan to travel this year,” the service wrote in its holiday forecast.
What causes this unusual warmth?
Why so warm? “Most of it is caused by El Niño,” AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kinnis told USA TODAY, referring to the disturbing weather pattern characterized by unusually warm waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean.
Cohen added that, in general, climate change also plays a role in reducing Christmas snow. “The Earth is definitely warming. Winters are getting shorter. Overall, they are getting warmer,” he said.
Where will there be snow on Christmas?
People in parts of the western and central United States, in a range of states from northern Arizona to the Dakotas, are likely to wake up to snow-covered landscapes on Christmas morning. This will be thanks to the weekend's winter storm that continues to develop into Friday.
“Apparently Santa decided that people in the Rocky Mountains and high plains would be on the nice list and get a white Christmas this year,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Ruiz said.
The largest city expected to be affected by the storm is Denver, which could see 2-4 inches of snow, the National Weather Service said. This is likely to impact travel at Denver International Airport, a major hub.
What exactly is a white Christmas?
The National Weather Service defines a white Christmas as having one inch of snow on the ground on the morning of December 25.
It doesn't have to snow on Dec. 25 to fit the weather service's definition of a white Christmas, but a few flurries are sure to help get people into the holiday spirit.
Contributing: The Associated Press
