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Will it snow in Denver on Christmas? NWS may have the answer

Posted at 1:25 PM, Dec 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-12 16:10:13-05

DENVER — Many of us of dreaming of a white – something! An unseasonably warm weather pattern has kept Denver and the rest of the state in a winter desert. But could the dry-weather be a build-up to a white Christmas?

The National Weather Servicereleased a map Tuesday showing the historical probability of that happening. And while Colorado’s high country and parts of the Western Slope are seeing a high probability of snow on Christmas, the Front Range may look just as barren as it is today.

The map shows most of the Denver area has about a 40 percent chance of snow falling on December 25. But parts of the high country, like Crested Butte, is almost guaranteed a white Christmas, with a 99 percent chance of snow. 

In other words, if you want that White Christmas, you’ll need to head to the mountains, where it historically sees snow on Christmas every year.

While the chances of a decent measurable snowfall being recorded in the Denver area on Dec. 25 is unlikely, it doesn't rule out a white Christmas. 

Out of the past 10 Christmas Days, snow has fallen or been present on eight days, suggesting there's a high likelihood there will be some snow on the ground.