No white Christmas in Indianapolis this year
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas just like Bing Crosby sang more than 40 years ago, you’re going to have to keep dreaming.
It looks like we’re in store for a warm Christmas Day and instead of snow, we may see rain.
However, if you look back at weather records in Indianapolis, the city doesn’t always see snow falling or on the ground on Christmas Day.
According to the National Weather Service office in Indianapolis, a trace of snow has fallen about 45% of the time since records began back in 1871. In 150 years, a trace of snow or more has fallen 68 times. The greatest snowfall on Christmas day was 5.9 inches back in 1909.
When you look at snow depth records, where there is a trace or more of snow on the ground, the percentage increases a little to 49%. Snow depth records first began in 1898. In the 123-year span, a trace or more of snow on the ground has occurred 60 times. An inch or more of snow on the ground has happened 34 times.
The last time we had at least a trace of snow falling or on the ground was just last year.
Here’s a look at the warmest high temperatures for Christmas Day. Our forecast is in the upper 50s, which would rank close to the five warmest Christmases on record.
The record high for Dec. 25 is 64 degrees, set back in 1893.
It doesn’t look like we’ll be setting any new low temperature records. The coldest low temperature on Christmas Day was 15 below back in 1983.
Here’s a look at the probability of a White Christmas across the entire U.S. from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.