Bracing for a wet Christmas

It's all the hoopla, will we have a White Christmas?! Now that the holiday is one week away, model data starts to come in with a little more certainty and as of now, there's a high chance it's a wet Christmas. But a White Christmas, no. Let's take a look at recent weather on this holiday, for Milwaukee.

 

As you can see, temperatures are all over the map in even just the last five years for Christmas. This time around we look to be breaking into the top ten warmest as upper 40s are likely. Here's some of the warmest we've ever had. 

But what about wet weather on Christmas? Surprisingly, only 35 Christmas holidays have had accumulating snow. But that's not the definition of a White Christmas. That is defined as one inch of snow on the ground. So our chances this year.... not looking good. We have no snow in the forecast over the next week. Temperatures are forecast to be near 50 degrees by Monday. And if forecast data holds true we are looking at Low pressure right over the state. As a rule of thumb, we generally don't show totals this far out since so much can change, but, given the holiday and travel a long range look warrants. A quarter to half inch of rainfall is possible. While we have a wet Christmas on the way, but not snow, it will at least be mild. And no travel troubles with rain over snow, so that's something to be grateful for this holiday season.