Weather Blog: Dreaming Of A White Christmas?

Just as Bing Crosby so melodically mused, "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas," many of us harbor hopes of that festive snowy scene to enjoy alongside family, fires, presents and eggnog, but just what are the chances of our dreams coming true?

For holiday revelers in the Twin Cities, chances are pretty good!

If we operate under the condition that a 'white Christmas' is defined as having one inch of snow on the ground on Christmas Day then, according to the Minnesota State Climatology Office, a white Christmas happens about 72 percent of the time in the Twin Cities!

And there is a greater than 30 percent chance of 5 inches of holiday snow on the ground.

Across much of northern Minnesota, you can bet that shiny gift under the tree that your dreams will come true, as according to the State Climatology Office. Those up north have a greater than 90 percent probability of a white Christmas with a guaranteed 100 percent chance in some locales, including Big Falls, Cass Lake and Roseau.

Some other white Christmas probabilities include:
Bemidji: 92 percent
Brainerd: 97 percent
Downtown Duluth: 97 percent
Rochester: 78 percent
St. Cloud: 74 percent
Worthington: 76 percent

The biggest metro Christmas snowfall occurred in 1945 where 11.3 inches fell in downtown Minneapolis on Dec. 24 and 25.