Dreaming of a white Christmas in Virginia? Expert gives us his predictions for snow

Those in Virginia who watch Hallmark movies or listen to carols in December often dream of having some snow on the ground on Christmas morning.

For those in the Commonwealth, however, you likely won’t need roaring fire to stay warm, and you won’t need to dig out your snow shovel or sled on Dec. 25.

In Virginia, Santa Claus, or anyone else for that matter, won’t be “dashing through the snow” as in the holiday classic tune “Jingle Bells.”

“It’s not looking good for a white Christmas anywhere in the state,” said Thomas Kines, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.

This week, Kines predicts a mild spell before the weather turns colder again this weekend. However, it looks like temperatures will be more moderate next week before any precipitation arrives, he said.

This could make travel easier for Virginians who plan to hit the roads or skies for the holidays.

“It looks like for the most part, Mother Nature is going to cooperate for those who have to travel prior to Christmas,” Kines said. “We are not anticipating any large storms east of the Rockies.

“There could be some rain, snow or ice across the Great Lakes and northeast states early next week, but this isn’t the type of storm that shuts down airports or roads for an extended period.”

While Virginia might not wake up to snowflakes on Christmas morning, there are some areas who have a better chance of something resembling “A Christmas Story.”

The best chance for a white Christmas is in Denver, Salt Lake City, Omaha, Minneapolis and Chicago, according to an AccuWeather report.

In 2022 and 2012, more than half the United States experienced a white Christmas. To officially be considered a white Christmas, one inch of snow or more must be on the ground on Christmas morning.

Records show only 16.7 percent of the United States had an inch or more of snow on the ground on Christmas morning last year.