BACK WITH US AND WILL LIKELY BE IN THE 60S. AS WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WINTER AND THE SNOWFLAKES YESTERDAY, JUST REMINDING US HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO THAT. COMING UP AS WE GET YOU INTO THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE’RE GOING TO BE TALKING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT EL NINO. THIS IS A SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE ANOMALY THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THE PACIFIC. EQUATORIAL WATERS. THIS IS OFF THE COAST OF ECUADOR. AND YOU SEE THAT WHEN WE’RE WARMER THAN AVERAGE, IT CHANGES THE PRESSURE PATTERNS ACROSS THE GLOBE. AND REALLY THAT MEANS FOR US, WE COULD SEE SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES STAYING ABOVE NORMAL ALL THE WAY THROUGH MAY. AND IF THAT EL NINO CONTINUES TO REMAIN AT THAT STRENGTH, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A MORE ACTIVE PACIFIC JET STREAM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. AND SO WHAT THAT COULD MEAN, WILL MORE STORMS POTENTIAL LEE MORE SNOW, BUT NOT NECESSARILY COULD MEAN MORE WINTER STORMS, COULD BE MORE RAIN. AND OF COURSE, OUR TEMPERATURES TO AT LEAST TO BEGIN WITH, LOOK TO BE NEAR NORMAL OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL AT THIS POINT. SO OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. SO THIS IS A STRENGTHENING EL NINO, THAT JET STREAM THAT TRANSPORTS MOISTURE FROM THE PACIFIC OCEAN COULD KEEP IT GOING RIGHT OVER THE SOUTHEAST. AND IF THAT HAPPENS, YEAH, SOME OF THE WORST WEATHER THAT WE WOULD REALLY NOT LIKE TO SEE WOULD BE THE ICE STORMS, THE WINTRY MIX. THAT’S MORE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH THAN IT IS, I THINK THE SNOW. SO NO GUARANTEE THAT WE’RE GOING TO SEE A SNOWIER WINTER. BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE WE HAVE BETTER RAIN CHANCES COMING UP. AN
Will North Carolina enjoy a white Christmas? What are the odds for snowfall at Christmas?
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Updated: 5:38 PM EST Dec 13, 2023
Editor's Note: Video above features winter forecast for this year Do you remember the last time it snowed around the Christmas holiday in the Piedmont Triad? It was a magical day as the snowflakes began to fall across the Piedmont Triad. Top StoriesNorthern Lights: Will we see it in North Carolina, Virginia? Check out the best chances for viewing in the United StatesFive students jumped from back of moving school bus, 1 Parkland student died, Winston-Salem officials sayYadkin County mom wants sheriff to do more after death of 14-year-old sonGet the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereBut what about this year? First, you need to know there are only a handful of dates since 1950 when there was more than a trace of snow. 2010 WHITE CHRISTMAS The most recent major Christmas snowstorm in the Triad happened in 2010. It's the best Christmas snowfall within the last two decades as most of North Carolina was coated with six to eight inches of snowfall in the Northern Mountains; even the beaches received snowfall from a trace of up to 12 inches of snow in the Northern Outer Banks.1989 COASTAL SNOWSTORMIn 1989, the North Carolina coast saw a major snowstorm that arrived on Dec. 22 and continued to snow until around midday on Christmas Eve. Snowfall totals of 15 inches at Wilmington, 13.3 inches at Cape Hatteras and was the all-time record for those locations. The storm resulted in the first white Christmas on record from northeastern Florida to North Carolina, according to the National Weather Service. ►How much snow could we get this winter? North Carolina could have an above-average snowfall this year, find out more here. Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts There are only a few rare times over the years that we've seen snow on Christmas Day in the Piedmont Triad. WHITE CHRISTMAS OVER THE YEARS We've seen reports of flurries or trace snowfall totals on Christmas Day in 1948, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1970, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1993, and 1998. The Christmas gift of measurable snowfall has occurred only a handful of times since 1928. Here's a list of most of our measurable snowfalls on Christmas Day from the National Weather Service Raleigh climate data from the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro:2.80" of snowfall on December 25, 19470.80" of snowfall on December 25, 1962 1.10" of snowfall on December 25, 19694.20" of snowfall on December 25, 2010WHITE CHRISTMAS EVE According to National Weather Service records, we have also seen measurable snowfall on Christmas Eve.2.60" of snowfall on December 24, 19660.20" of snowfall on December 24, 1998 ►Check out just how much snow North Carolina could get this winter, here.However, it's still too early to tell, but the snow lover in all of us hope that it's a white Christmas or at least that we'll see snow sometime between now and the end of winter 2024. Maybe all those sleds under the Christmas trees will get lots of use this season.Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.But even though our chances of a white Christmas are rare, we've at least seen a trace or some measurable snowfall during December over the years. So, keep checking back here and on our site to find more about the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day forecasts. NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |TRENDING STORIES
Editor's Note: Video above features winter forecast for this year
Do you remember the last time it snowed around the Christmas holiday in the Piedmont Triad? It was a magical day as the snowflakes began to fall across the Piedmont Triad.
Top Stories
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here
But what about this year? First, you need to know there are only a handful of dates since 1950 when there was more than a trace of snow.
2010 WHITE CHRISTMAS
The most recent major Christmas snowstorm in the Triad happened in 2010. It's the best Christmas snowfall within the last two decades as most of North Carolina was coated with six to eight inches of snowfall in the Northern Mountains; even the beaches received snowfall from a trace of up to 12 inches of snow in the Northern Outer Banks.
1989 COASTAL SNOWSTORM
In 1989, the North Carolina coast saw a major snowstorm that arrived on Dec. 22 and continued to snow until around midday on Christmas Eve. Snowfall totals of 15 inches at Wilmington, 13.3 inches at Cape Hatteras and was the all-time record for those locations. The storm resulted in the first white Christmas on record from northeastern Florida to North Carolina, according to the National Weather Service.
►How much snow could we get this winter? North Carolina could have an above-average snowfall this year, find out more here.
Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts
There are only a few rare times over the years that we've seen snow on Christmas Day in the Piedmont Triad.
WHITE CHRISTMAS OVER THE YEARS
We've seen reports of flurries or trace snowfall totals on Christmas Day in 1948, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1970, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1993, and 1998.
The Christmas gift of measurable snowfall has occurred only a handful of times since 1928. Here's a list of most of our measurable snowfalls on Christmas Day from the National Weather Service Raleigh climate data from the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro:
- 2.80" of snowfall on December 25, 1947
- 0.80" of snowfall on December 25, 1962
- 1.10" of snowfall on December 25, 1969
- 4.20" of snowfall on December 25, 2010
WHITE CHRISTMAS EVE
According to National Weather Service records, we have also seen measurable snowfall on Christmas Eve.
- 2.60" of snowfall on December 24, 1966
- 0.20" of snowfall on December 24, 1998
►Check out just how much snow North Carolina could get this winter, here.
However, it's still too early to tell, but the snow lover in all of us hope that it's a white Christmas or at least that we'll see snow sometime between now and the end of winter 2024. Maybe all those sleds under the Christmas trees will get lots of use this season.
Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.
But even though our chances of a white Christmas are rare, we've at least seen a trace or some measurable snowfall during December over the years. So, keep checking back here and on our site to find more about the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day forecasts.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |
TRENDING STORIES
