Most Americans dreaming of a white Christmas may be disappointed this year. While parts of the Rockies and Midwest already have snow, many other areas are still brown and will likely stay that way through Christmas Day. The Northeast, which usually has snowy Decembers, was hit by rain this week, causing havoc on the region’s ski areas.
Judah Cohen, the director of seasonal forecasting at Verisk Atmospheric and Environmental Research, says that while some people may still get their wish of a white Christmas, most of the country will have a brown Christmas. He also notes that the snow cover across the U.S. is at near-record lows for this time of year.
According to the National Weather Service, there may not be a white Christmas for much of the country. The bright side, however, is that the weather is favorable for most people who have plans to travel this year.
For those still hoping for a white Christmas, the best chance is in Alaska, where snow depth could be close to the record of 30 inches, set back in 1994.
Climate change is playing a role in diminishing Christmas snow, Cohen said, noting that winters are getting shorter and warmer. Despite the challenges, Northeastern snow lovers aren’t giving up. After closing for rain on Monday, Gunstock reopened Tuesday, while many other ski areas took a day or two longer to rebuild trails.