Weather
Will Davidson Have A White Christmas In 2021?
Will there be snow in time for Santa's arrival in NC? Farmers' Almanac and Accuweather weigh in on this year's holiday forecast.
DAVIDSON, NC — For some, the holidays simply aren’t the same without a blanket of fresh, white snow on the ground. But what are the odds of actually experiencing this simple pleasure on Christmas Day in North Carolina?
A white Christmas could be hard to come by in some parts of the United States this year, according to newly released forecasts by prognosticators including Farmers’ Almanac and Accuweather.
Meanwhile, other states face an even greater chance for snow thanks to La Niña, a meteorological phenomenon during which sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean drop to lower-than-average levels.
La Niña played a major role in this year’s predictions, according to Accuweather, tending to steer storms northward and cutting off moisture to the southern portion of the United States.
So what does this mean for North Carolina this Christmas? Will we see fresh snow this holiday weekend?
Find out what's happening in Davidsonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Not likely, according to Farmers’ Almanac’s Christmas 2021 forecast.
You can always check out Davidson weather here on Patch.
Residents of North Carolina and others in the southeast can expect it to be dry and cold.
Those in the Northeast, Ohio Valley, Great Lakes and Midwest can expect a frigidly cold Christmas. Those in the Northeast may also see scattered snow showers. States in the northern Plains can expect fair skies and fair temperatures, while some Southern states including Texas and New Mexico should brace for cold weather.
Find out what's happening in Davidsonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
If no snow falls on Christmas Day, will North Carolina at least see snow on the ground? The chances are low, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.
Using three decades worth of climatological measurements, the Farmers’ Almanac annually predicts the probability that a snow depth of at least 1 inch will be recorded on Christmas Day.
There's a less than 10 percent chance for most of the state, and a less than 10-25 percent chance in the high country.
In the Sierras, Cascades, the leeward side of the Great Lakes and northern New England, Christmas snow cover is a near certainty, Farmers’ Almanac says. In these regions, most precipitation in late autumn and early winter falls as snow, making the probability of snowfall exceed 25 percent.
At higher elevations in the Rocky Mountains and at many locations between the northern Rockies and New England, the probability of snow on the ground is more than 50 percent.
For those who opt for a green Christmas, the best places to be in late December will be Southern California, the lower elevations of the Southwest, and Florida.
Of course, Farmers’ Almanac isn’t the only expert in predicting holiday weekend weather. Accuweather also released its 2021 holiday forecast this week, and its predictions are similar but more hopeful for the high country.
Accuweather also looks at the historical probability that residents of North Carolina will have a white Christmas. Typically in our state, there’s a 5-25 percent chance of at least 1 inch of snow on the ground by the holiday weekend and it's 25-50 percent in the high country.
This year, the odds of a white Christmas in North Carolina are lower than normal, according to Accuweather.
The fascination with a white Christmas was likely popularized by the writings of Charles Dickens. The depiction of a snow-covered Christmas season in his 1843 classic “A Christmas Carol,” and a number of his other short stories, was reportedly influenced by memories of his childhood.
The song “White Christmas,” written by Irving Berlin and sung by Bing Crosby, is among the best-selling singles of all time. The tune nostalgically speaks of a white Christmas and has since become embedded in American holiday traditions.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.