December 12, 2016
A white Christmas? This year?
Don't hold your breath.
Most signs are pointing toward that annual dream being dashed.
With a second straight year of unseasonable temperatures in the (admittedly long-range) forecast, the prospects are dimming for a white Christmas – defined as an inch of snow on the ground on Christmas morning be meteorologists and by everybody else as a fine way to kick off a full day of merriment.
But if you're the guy who strings colored bulbs on a miniature palm tree this time of year, you're in luck – again.
Last December, you'll recall, was downright balmy with 13 days of 60-degree-or-warmer temperatures in Philadelphia, including four days in the 70s.
The mercury soared to 68 degrees on Christmas Day, a record in Philadelphia. That's 26 degrees warmer than the historical average for December 25 in this city. It was even warmer – 71 degrees! – on Christmas Eve.
With two weeks to go, it seems Mother Nature will bless us with more unseasonable weather on December 25 – with a possible thunderstorm to boot. With the earth warming at an alarming rate, "Christmas in the Caribbean" becomes a more likely reoccurrence every year.
The Accu Weather extended forecast sees cloudy skies and a high of 54 degrees on Christmas Day. The evening will bring a low around 38, with a shower or thunderstorm possible.
Clouds could begin to build in on Christmas Eve, with a high around 47.
The National Weather Service's 8-14 Day Outlook sees a trend of above-normal temperatures in the Philly area with a 40 to 50 percent probability of higher-than-average precipitation.
For its part, the Old Farmer's Almanac predicts the following weather for Christmas week - Dec 22-29: Periods of rain and snow north in the Atlantic Corridor region – Boston to Richmond – with showers in the south.
And, looking a bit farther out, what about champagne and mummery?
Accu Weather is forecasting a mostly sunny day on New Year's Eve, with a high temperature of 38 and a low of 32 and 10 percent chance of precipitation.
Philly's mummers look to step off under partly sunny skies, with a high around 44 and a 25 percent chance of precipitation.
But don't go pulling out your Bermuda shorts just yet.
It's going to get frigid later this week, as a cold front arrives midweek. Temperatures will likely not rise above the freezing mark from about 11 p.m. Wednesday until 9 a.m. Saturday, forecasters say. Wind chills will be zero to 5 degrees in the Philadelphia area, and nearly 15 degrees below zero in the Poconos.
Aaaahh, don't sweat it ... Christmas is coming.
