Last Updated: Monday, 12/21
We’re down to less than a week until Santa loads up his sleigh and heads out to deliver presents around the world. But what can Jolly Old Saint Nicholas expect from Mother Nature when he arrives in the U.S.? Of course, Santa isn’t the only one who needs to worry about the weather. For all of you that have shopping, travel or other festive activities planned on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, here’s your MORECAST outlook:
Northeast/Mid Atlantic
Christmas Eve:
It will not be a Winter Wonderland on Christmas Eve in the Northeast. In fact, record warmth looks likely in many places including New York City, Boston and Philadelphia with high temperatures in the 60s and even the 70s. But you may need the umbrella to go along with the shorts, as the spring-like warmth will be joined by spring-like scattered showers and even a few rumbles of thunder along with gusty winds.
Christmas Day:
Temperatures will be a tad cooler, but still well above average overall, with highs in the 50s and 60s, still near 70 around Washington D.C. Otherwise, looks to be a dry Christmas day, with a few showers in the Mid Atlantic Christmas night.
Southeast/Mississippi Valley
Christmas Eve:
The same storm system bringing showers to the Northeast is expected for fire off showers and thunderstorms across the Southeast, which will also experience warm weather with highs in the 70s for most, 80s along the Gulf Coast and Florida. Some of the storms in the Deep South could be severe, so be alert if you’re traveling or out, especially in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
Christmas Day:
Remaining mild. Overall, less active compared to Christmas Eve, though a few spotty storms may linger.
Great Lakes/Ohio Valley/Northern Plains
Christmas Eve:
It will all depend where you are. The Ohio Valley will be the warmest, with highs in the 60s along the Ohio River. The southeastern Great Lakes will also be unseasonably mild with temperatures in the upper 40s and 50s, along with scattered showers in the morning. But the northwestern half of the Great Lakes will be chilly, with temperatures in the 30s. It gets even colder in the Northern Plains, where highs will only be in the 20s.
Christmas Day:
Southern parts of the Ohio Valley will remain mild with highs in the 60s, but it will a tad cooler in the southeastern Great Lakes (highs in 40s instead of 50s). Otherwise it will be a dry day across the Great Lakes region, though a few showers can’t be ruled out late Christmas night near the Ohio River. Meanwhile, cold weather remains in place across the Northern Plains. A developing disturbance may also drop a few inches of snow across portions of South Dakota and western Nebraska.
West
Christmas Eve:
A large pool of colder air will spread across the western U.S., leading to below average temperatures, especially up in the mountains. Some spotty rain showers will possible in the Pacific Northwest and California, with heavy snowfall expected across the mountains, including the Cascades and Sierra Nevadas, with a few inches also possible in the higher country of Arizona and the Rockies.
Christmas Day:
Temperatures will remain below average all across the west. If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, then the mountains in the Four Corners area is where you’ll want to be. Several inches of snow will be possible for the high country, which should delight many who are spending their Christmas at a ski resort. But be careful if you’re traveling, especially when driving over mountain passes.