GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — It seems like it's been a while since West Michigan has had a White Christmas. It's officially a 'White Christmas' when there is at least one inch of snow on the ground at 7 a.m. on December 25.
I think it's highly likely that this year, we will!
Since 1893, there have been 80 years (out of 122) with snow on the ground—a 66% occurrence—meaning two out of every three years, there was a White Christmas.
Since 2011, however, seven of the past eleven years we've had no snow on the ground—not even a trace—including last year! This is likely due to climate change with warming winter temperatures.
In the past 30 years, from 1991 to 2020, the odds of a White Christmas decreased to almost 50% around West Michigan, meaning only one out of every two years was white.
The extended forecast remains locked in on exceptionally cold air arriving in the days prior to December 25, which would likely lead to considerable lake-effect snow. Here is the Euro model estimate of how much snow is possible through Friday, December 23 (the latest date the model goes out).
I think it's safe to say we are headed for a White Christmas with possibly the most snow on Christmas morning since 2013 (5'' on the ground), 2008 (13'' on the ground) or 2011 (15'' on the ground).
Merry Christmas!
Chief Meteorologist George Lessens
George is a graduate of Penn State University working for 13 On Your Side for over 42 years. He is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM), a twelve-time MAB® Weathercast Award Winner and two-time EMMY® Award Winner.
Contact me at: GeorgeLessens@13OnYourSide.com
Follow me on Twitter @glessens and Facebook GeorgeLessensWZZM
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