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What Are The Odds Of A Colorado White Christmas?

NOAA Climate.gov NCDC

With Christmas on the way, thoughts are turning to sleigh bells, hot chocolate, and jolly old Saint Nick. While there’s still a bit of snow on the ground from the last round of storms, what are the chances we’ll have an inch or more by Dec. 25?

There’s a definition of what makes a white Christmas. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a white Christmas is when at least 1 inch of snow covers the ground on Dec. 25. Compiling climate norms from 1981-2010, NOAA has released a probability map highlighting the best spots for a white Christmas.

Credit NOAA Climate.gov NCDC

While Idaho, northern Maine, northern Minnesota and the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania have some of the best chances for a white Christmas, don’t discount the great Rocky Mountains. In the Denver metro area it appears there’s a pretty good chance for some white stuff on the ground Christmas morning. Between 50-75 percent depending where you live. Areas including Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley have a shot anywhere from 26-50 percent.

http://youtu.be/jbyTgOjkW6c

The best place for a 100 percent historical probability of a white Christmas in Colorado? You guessed it, the high country. The worst? Southeastern Colorado.

NOAA says, of course, actual conditions on Christmas day could be very different. But their map is a great way to guess where snow cover will be the morning after a visit by Santa Claus.

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