Still dreaming of a white Christmas?
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 4 months AGO
Clouds settled over the mountains across Lake Coeur d'Alene while two people walk from the dock at Independence Point on Thursday.
BILL BULEY/Press
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | December 22, 2023 1:06 AM
COEUR d'ALENE — It's going to take some Christmas magic and even a miracle on 34th Street for it to snow in Coeur d'Alene on Dec. 25.
"It’s an El Niño year and this one is strong," Meteorologist Randy Mann wrote. "During these years, the odds of a White Christmas in North Idaho are much lower."
Mann said there are going to be a few storms ahead of Christmas, and there could be a couple of snow showers on Christmas, but it looks like mostly rain or snow events.
"Not much snow is expected to fall from these systems, in terms of accumulation," he wrote. "I believe it’s going to be too warm for measurable snow on the ground in the lower elevations."
Mann said there is a better chance of snow around New Year's Day.
Coeur d'Alene Climatologist Cliff Harris agreed with Mann, but said a white Christmas could happen.
"We have been very lucky in getting white Christmases over the past several years," he said.
But so far this snow season, only 7 inches has fallen compared to the average this time of year at 39 inches.
"We're way, way behind on snow," Harris said. "The mountains are the same way."
He said it's going to turn colder this weekend, with highs above freezing and lows in the 20s, which is better conditions for snow and it might stick around.
But he said with warm air due to El Niño, the little snow that falls has been melting quickly.
"It could still be on the ground on Christmas Day," he said. "It's going to be close."
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