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Historical data shows how often Des Moines has a white Christmas

Historical data shows how often Des Moines has a white Christmas
We are getting closer and closer to Christmas 2024. Right now, the outlook for *** white Christmas at least *** little ways off doesn't look great. So today we're gonna talk about how common actually is *** white Christmas here in Central Iowa. Are they becoming less common? What actually does *** white Christmas all entail? Because that actually, you might not know there is *** definition for what *** white Christmas is. The definition is, you gotta have an inch of snow on the ground on Christmas Day. That's the actual formal terminology if you want to at that meteorologically of what *** white Christmas is historically here around the Des Moines area, we only have that about 40% of the time. Obviously, it varies *** little bit here across the state of Iowa, as you would imagine as the farther north you go, the lighter that color is the more likely you are to have usually on an average Christmas actually an inch of snow, at least on the ground, especially as you get up towards the Minnesota border, up towards like highway 18. You can get upward of 70% of the time you get down here towards the middle of the state. It's more like 40 to 50% of the time and then as low as about 30% of the time as you head down towards far southern Iowa, that's kind of on average now. Has that changed over history? Well, we went back about six decades and change and looked at how often we had *** white Christmas, how often we had that at least an inch of snow on the ground. It's been as many as seven out of 10 years back in the 19 sixties and then from the seventies through the two thousands, kind of wobble back and forth, you know, 34 or five times *** decade, five times back in the 20 tens as we've gone through the 20 twenties, it's been sort of *** similar thing. We've got four years in already and it's been two of the four years so far this decade and so no big trend there, at least here, right around the Des Moines area where we keep our records. Now, there has been *** little bit of *** jump in our average highs notice as you go back the last several decades, it's been, you know, usually on average the high temperature on December 25th, *** few degrees, either side of the freezing mark. We're maybe *** little bit below that actually. And then the last decade we really jumped up here, our average high during the 20 tens. Actually, for example, the warmest Christmas on record is 2019. Here in the Des Moines area, the temperature topped out at 60 degrees. Last Christmas was pretty warm too. In 2023 we had highs above the 50 degree mark and obviously it wasn't *** white Christmas last year. Now, obviously, we're *** little far off right now. Things don't look promising though. Keep with us, we'll keep an eye on that forecast as we get closer in the coming days.
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Historical data shows how often Des Moines has a white Christmas
Christmas is nearing, and the likelihood of Iowans getting snow for the holiday looks fairly low.Last year brought temperatures in the 50s. At this point, Christmas 2024 is looking warmer than average as well.Is this sort of thing becoming more common?Definition of 'white Christmas'There actually are specific criteria for a white Christmas that meteorologists look for. To count, there has to be at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on Dec. 25.Historically, that only happens about 40% of the time in the Des Moines area. Farther north, places like Mason City and Estherville have a greater than 60% chance each year.In southern Iowa, the probability is only around 30% for places like Ottumwa, Chariton or Mount Ayr.Christmas weather trendsWhen it comes to snow on Christmas, there's been variation throughout the decades.During the 1960s, Des Moines recorded seven white Christmases. Since then, the number has been about 3-5 per decade.Christmas temperatures vary quite a bit year to year, but recent years have been quite warm.From the 1960s to the 2000s, high temps in Des Moines averaged around 30° each decade. During the 2010s, the average high shot up to 38°.Des Moines has surpassed 40 degrees six of the last 10 Christmases. In 2019, the capital hit 60 degrees for the first time in history.At this point, this year is also looking mild.

Christmas is nearing, and the likelihood of Iowans getting snow for the holiday looks fairly low.

Last year brought temperatures in the 50s. At this point, Christmas 2024 is looking warmer than average as well.

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Is this sort of thing becoming more common?

Definition of 'white Christmas'

There actually are specific criteria for a white Christmas that meteorologists look for. To count, there has to be at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on Dec. 25.

Historically, that only happens about 40% of the time in the Des Moines area. Farther north, places like Mason City and Estherville have a greater than 60% chance each year.

In southern Iowa, the probability is only around 30% for places like Ottumwa, Chariton or Mount Ayr.

white christmas in iowa
Hearst Owned
Data from NOAA/NCEI. 

When it comes to snow on Christmas, there's been variation throughout the decades.
During the 1960s, Des Moines recorded seven white Christmases. Since then, the number has been about 3-5 per decade.

white christmas in iowa
Hearst Owned

Christmas temperatures vary quite a bit year to year, but recent years have been quite warm.

From the 1960s to the 2000s, high temps in Des Moines averaged around 30° each decade. During the 2010s, the average high shot up to 38°.

white christmas in iowa
Hearst Owned

Des Moines has surpassed 40 degrees six of the last 10 Christmases. In 2019, the capital hit 60 degrees for the first time in history.

At this point, this year is also looking mild.