Hoping for a white Christmas? Historically, the odds are not in Kansas City’s favor
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Historically the chances are not great in Kansas City, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service said on Twitter that it is already getting questions about whether there will be snow on the ground this upcoming holiday.
While it is too early for a specific forecast, the weather service expects it to be colder than normal. Typically, Kansas City sees 40 degree temperatures on Christmas.
“Climatologically in KC the chance for a white Christmas is about 25%,” the weather service said on Twitter.
Meteorologists define a white Christmas as having at least 1 inch of snow on the ground. Kansas City’s last white Christmas was in 2017, when 1.1 inches of snow fell on Christmas Eve, according to the National Weather Service in Kansas City.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s climate.gov website also determined the historic probability of a white Christmas for cities across the United States based on the latest U.S. Climate Normals, which are based on observed weather conditions between 1991 and 2020.
For Kansas City, the historic probability of a white Christmas is 19.8%, according to NOAA.
Areas that have the best chance of 1 inch or more of snow on the ground on Christmas Day include Minnesota, Maine, Upstate New York, Idaho, the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
