Could the East Coast have a White Christmas? It’s 16 days until December 25th and for those hoping to have snow on the ground for that special day, AccuWeather’s latest prediction should put smiles on many faces.
Suggesting that an amazing 50% of the country may have a white Christmas when the usual average is 25%, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Joe Bastardi has posted a map at the website showing the locations expected to have measureable snow for the holiday. Sweeping from the northwest to the mid-Atlantic and northeast, it is a wide path of dreams and happiness for many dreaming of a White Christmas.
Look out, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, DC. Have the snow shovels on stand-by in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
According to AccuWeather:
Bitter cold is now gripping much of the country including the deep South where growers are fearful of crop damage. While freezing temperatures should ease this weekend in the mid-Atlantic and South, a major snowstorm may be in the works during that time for other areas. Another cold wave will move into the mid-Atlantic next week, as predicted by Bastardi who noted, “Repetitive cold waves and the threats of storms will keep hitting parts of the East in the weeks leading up to Christmas.”
He added that “one or two of these storms has the potential to become a major snowstorm for portions of the mid-Atlantic and New England, including the storm that may hit the East from December 12-14.”
The central Shenandoah Valley weather forecast is predicting rain with low- to mid-40s this weekend but another arctic wave early next week will see temps tumble back into daytime highs in the mid-20s. AccuWeather has warned the “fiercest blast of arctic air this season thus far will raid the eastern half of the country” in the upcoming week.
As far as that snow for Christmas, we’re still more than two weeks away and the weather forecast could change a dozen times between now and then. However, Joe Bastardi’s weather map gives hope to many who are dreaming of a White Christmas. Count me as one of them.
