NORAD Santa Tracker: St. Nick Enjoys Clear Skies In Atlanta

PEACHTREE CITY, GA - -Santa Claus had clear flying conditions on Christmas Eve in metro Atlanta, with the National Weather Service forecasting perfect December winter conditions throughout the area. NORAD's Santa Tracker is also up and running, and millions around the world followed Santa's progress throughout the day and into the night. For 60 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa’s flight.

The tradition began in 1955 after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement misprinted the telephone number for children to call Santa. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD commander-in-chief's operations "hotline." The director of operations at the time, Col. Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born.

In 1958, the governments of Canada and the United States created a bi-national air defense command for North America called the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD, which then took on the tradition of tracking Santa.

Here's your Christmas Day forecast, as well as for the next several days.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 53. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Monday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Christmas Day

Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 58.

Wednesday Night

A 40 percent chance of showers after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Thursday

Showers, mainly after 8am. High near 57. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Thursday Night

Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8pm. Low around 53. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Friday

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 67. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Friday Night

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Saturday

A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 62.

Saturday Night

Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday

Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 57. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Shutterstock