Will You See a White Christmas? How Major Forecasts Compare

Detailed summary

The northern United States and higher elevations in the West appeared to be favored this year, according multiple early outlooks.

Early white-Christmas outlooks broadly favor the northern United States and higher elevations in the West this year.

Weather conditions will matter for the millions of Americans likely to travel to see family over the holiday period. Last year, the American Automobile Association projected more than 122 million would travel at least 50 miles from home between December 20 and January 1.

To be considered a white Christmas, an area must have at least one inch of snow on the ground on Christmas morning, according to the National Weather Service.

According to a map issued by the Farmers’ Almanac, northern and mountainous parts of the country could have the best odds for a white Christmas this year, while those in the South are unlikely to see one.

In the West, this outlook favors snow in the Rocky Mountains and at higher elevations in California. It depicts valleys and low-lying areas as less certain, however. Lowland Washington and Oregon are also considered uncertain, though it said conditions could differ in mountain communities.

Northern areas in the Midwest and Great Lakes were shown as having an edge, although it noted that thaws could potentially limit snow cover.

Inland and northern portions of the Northeast may fare better than coastal communities, where coverage could be limited by rain or mixed precipitation, the Farmers’ Almanac said.

Meanwhile, snow appears least likely for the South, according to the publication’s map, which describes it as unlikely.

Farmers’ Almanac editor Tim Konrad told Newsweek that while hurdles in the way of a white Christmas will likely vary by region, temperatures could be a common factor.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Newsweek. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.