As Christmas approaches in just five days, meteorologists have a clearer picture of where snow is likely to fall on this festive day.

For the most part, it looks like the snow we see today is the snow we can expect on Christmas morning, though a final snowfall could occur in parts of the Northeast just before the holiday, according to AccuWeather’s meteorologist Brandon Buckingham speaking to YSL News on Thursday.

In general, a white Christmas seems almost certain for a large portion of the mountainous regions in the West, such as the Sierra Nevada and the Rockies, as reported by AccuWeather.

Other Likely Areas for a White Christmas

Beyond the Western mountains, several locations in the East also have a good chance of seeing a white Christmas:

“Several towns and cities near the Great Lakes that have received significant lake-effect snow this month are looking good for a white Christmas, such as Erie, Pennsylvania, which is experiencing its snowiest start to winter on record,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Lada.

There is also a promising possibility of snow for North Dakota and northern Minnesota extending to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, along with some areas in northern New England, according to Weather.com.

Potential Last-Minute Snow for Christmas

A final storm is anticipated early next week that might bring some last-minute snow for Christmas, according to weather experts.

“A weak storm is projected to move quickly east from the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley on December 24 and then travel through the central Appalachians, mid-Atlantic, and New England from the evening of December 24 to the early hours of Christmas Day,” explained AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok in an online update.

“This system is mostly expected to bring rain but may also deliver mixed precipitation, especially in the northern areas and central Appalachians, where colder air is predicted to remain,” he stated.

The National Weather Service in Cleveland has indicated a possibility for snow in the forecast from Monday to Wednesday of next week, potentially even on Christmas morning: “A combination of rain and snow is expected, with the best chance for snow each night continuing into the morning hours.”

In an amusing note, the Austin/San Antonio weather service commented in their Thursday forecast: “As it stands now, there’s a strong likelihood of scattered thunderstorms on Christmas Eve. So those hoping for a white Christmas may have to wait until next year.”

2024 White Christmas Map and Predictions

AccuWeather has released maps and forecasts detailing where significant snowfall is most likely on December 25, 2024.

Defining a White Christmas

To meet the weather service’s criteria for a white Christmas, there must be at least one inch of snow on the ground—just falling snow on December 25 itself isn’t necessary. A mere trace of snow doesn’t meet this requirement, as stated by Weather.com.

On average, about 38% of the mainland U.S. has an inch or more of snow on Christmas Day, based on 21 years of data compiled by NOAA.

Since 2003, this percentage has fluctuated significantly from year to year, dipping to just 17.6% last year and peaking at around 63% in 2009, according to Weather.com.

The Appeal of a White Christmas

The American attraction to a white Christmas dates back to at least 1942, spurred by Bing Crosby’s classic song featured in the film “Holiday Inn.” Written by Irving Berlin, the lyrics evoke a nostalgic vision of Christmases of yesteryear, “just like the ones I used to know.”

A second film named “White Christmas,” also starring Crosby, premiered in 1954.

This enthusiasm can even be traced back further to a mix of nostalgia, music, popular literature, the growth of Victorian culture, and even the impact of the Little Ice Age.