If you were dreamin’ of a white Christmas, unfortunately, well, you probably didn’t get one.
The U.S. had its lowest snow pack coverage since 2005, according to official data from NOAA, with only 24.6 percent of the lower 48 having some form of snow coverage. This is the lowest figure since 2005, when also 24.6 percent of the country had snow coverage. The last time it was lower than 24.6 percent was back in 2003, when only 21.2 percent of the lower 48 was covered in snow.
By the way, the ‘official’ definition of a White Christmas is having at least an inch of snow on the ground. The maps show any sort of snow coverage, and in many cases even the 24.6 percent figure may be below the one inch threshold.
That said, a coast-to-coast storm system could bring healthy snowfall to plenty of areas that didn’t see snow on Christmas morning, particularly in the upper Midwest.
It just wasn’t in time for Christmas, at least this year. Maybe next year, white Christmas dreamers!
For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Chris Bianchi