AccuWeather’s 2024 White Christmas Forecast Calls for Snow in More Areas

Long-range forecasters say more towns and cities across the U.S. could experience a white Christmas this year compared to 2023, bringing a slight possibility that more than half the nation could have some snow on the rooftops on Dec. 25.

The last time more than half of the U.S. experienced a white Christmas was in 2022, say AccuWeather forecasters, who are calling for a medium probability of a white Christmas for Denver, Salt Lake City, Omaha, Minneapolis and Chicago.

AccuWeather is forecasting a low probability of a white Christmas along the Interstate 95 corridor for Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

However, the turbulent weather pattern that brought snow to parts of the Northeast could deliver more snow and rain to parts of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley just before the holidays, according to the forecasting service.

There is a high likelihood that higher elevations and areas that typically get snow around Dec. 25 will have snow on the ground, but the key factor for lower elevations will come down to the temperatures on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to AccuWeather.

In the Northwest, a stormy pattern brought rounds of mountain snow to higher elevations in Northern California, parts of Oregon and Washington. More rounds of snow are expected in the higher elevations ahead of Christmas.

Towns in higher elevations across the Rockies have a solid snowpack, but lower elevations, including Denver, may not experience a white Christmas this year with a storm track that could miss those areas.

Historically, most U.S. residents do not wake up to a white Christmas. Records show only 16.7% nation had 1 inch or more of snow on the ground on Christmas morning in 2023. Before 2022, the last time more than half the nation saw a white Christmas was 2012, according to AccuWeather.