Coldest Christmas in Several Years Likely this Year

We've been lucky (depending on how you like your winter) lately with several days this month climbing into the 40's. But enjoy today, because temperatures crash this weekend. As you saw in the previous post, we are watching a wintry system that would impact travel by the end of the work week.

The weekend will be dry, but temperatures will already be turning colder. That will be the other top weather story going into Christmas; as it looks likely that Santa will bring part of the North Pole south with him this year. Highs this weekend will fall into the 20's but now models are suggesting it will be even colder for Christmas and the start of next week. Some model guidance bring overnight lows into Monday below zero, and highs in the single digits. However, its too early to say if it will get THAT cold, because models have been struggling to key in on the 'core of the cold'. Wherever the core of the cold air is, is where the coldest temperatures will be found. Right now, the forecast for Christmas day is a high of 15°. If this verifies, it would be the coldest Christmas we've had in over five years. Even though it looks very cold, it's not forecast to record breaking cold. The coldest Christmas we've had? Back in 1983 the high temperature was five below!

While its unclear exactly how cold it will get, we do know it will be drastically colder and dangerously cold. Make sure to keep tuned into the forecast for the end of this week and next week as forecast details continue to come together.