Will Western Pa. get a white Christmas? Meteorologist weighs in
If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas this year, your dreams will likely come true.
Western Pennsylvania residents should expect to wake to new fallen snow on Christmas morning, said Myranda Fullerton, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Moon. She said this Christmas will be cold, windy and white.
Most of the Pittsburgh region will see about 3 inches of snow between Christmas Eve and Christmas, with the heaviest snow expected pre-dawn Christmas morning, meteorologist Pat Herald said. In the ridges and around the I-80 corridor, Christmas could bring 4 to 6 inches of snow.
Fullerton shared the outlook on the region’s experiences with Christmas snowfall.
Will we have a white Christmas this year?
The model has been pretty consistent with a strong cold front that will come through on Christmas Eve. It’ll start as rain. Later in the afternoon or evening, it will transition to snow. It does appear that snow will continue into Christmas Day.
What constitutes a white Christmas?
For us, an inch of snow on the ground qualifies as a white Christmas, according to the National Center for Environmental Information.
When did Pittsburgh last see a white Christmas?
It appears the last time we had a white Christmas was in 2017, where we received 1.4 inches of snow. Before that, you’d have to go back to 2003, where we received 1.8 inches. It’s kind of sporadic every couple years.
We take our snowfall measurements in Moon, so this is snow that fell at our office, which may not be completely representative of everywhere across the Pittsburgh area.
Did we have more white Christmases in the past than we have in recent years?
At a glance, it’s all very hit or miss. It’s going to depend on the year. Obviously, last year we didn’t have a whole lot, but this year, we’re already making up for lost time in respect to snowfall.
What are the chances of having a white Christmas in Pittsburgh?
For Pittsburgh, there’s a 32% chance of seeing a white Christmas on average.
Julia Felton is a TribLive reporter covering Pittsburgh City Hall and other news in and around Pittsburgh. A La Roche University graduate, she joined the Trib in 2020. She can be reached at jfelton@triblive.com.
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