Here’s How Long It’s Been Since We Had A White Christmas In NJ

NEW JERSEY — The last time most of New Jersey had at least an inch of snow on the ground on Christmas Day was in 2009 after a winter storm dumped several feet of snow on part of the state, according to state climatologist data.

According to a Weather Channel report looking at the historical odds of a white Christmas, New York City has had 15 white Christmases since 1912 while Philadelphia has had 7 since 1948.

In the days leading up to the holiday in 2024, the National Weather Service forecasts cold air will linger, making it possible for the snow that fell Friday could be on the ground still for Christmas.

Additionally, another round of light snow is possible on Christmas Eve in New Jersey. The National Weather Service says there's a 40 percent chance of snow Tuesday morning.

The Weather Channel report is based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including data on the probability of a white Christmas. NOAA’s projection is based on three-decade averages in snow accumulation, temperatures and other climatological data. Historically, New Jersey has a 10 to 25 percent chance of a white Christmas.

AccuWeather said in a Christmas forecast released Tuesday that more people will see a white Christmas this year than last, especially in the Rockies and Great Lakes states that have seen lake effect snow this season, but most won’t see the snow pile up.

“The cold sticks with us at the start of Christmas week, but then it warms up as we head towards the middle of the week on Christmas,” Pastelok said in the forecast discussion.

“A stormy pattern setting up over the Pacific Northwest will also deliver the gift of a white Christmas to the areas near the mountains that typically have snow on the ground for the holidays,” he said. “It's some of these lower spots, [such as] interior Washington, maybe not much [snow] there because temperatures are not really that cold,” Pastelok added.

On average, only about 38 percent of the Lower 48 states experience snow on the ground on Christmas Day, according to NOAA data. Last year, just 18 percent of these states had a white Christmas, marking the lowest percentage since record-keeping began in 2003. In contrast, in 2022, approximately 53 percent of the continental U.S. enjoyed a white Christmas, the highest percentage since 2009.