In an event that matches the season, a storm system is anticipated to bring a rare white Christmas to parts of the United States, with up to 10 feet of snow expected in certain areas.
White Christmas
BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 09: Downed tree branches cover a truck during an early season snow storm on September 9, 2020 in Boulder, Colorado. The storm brought more than five inches of snow to areas along Colorado's front range, but temperatures are expected to return to the 80s this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
According to the National Weather Service, the storm will reach areas at sea level, including Oregon and Washington.
Meanwhile, snowfall in the central Sierra Nevadas might reach ten feet.
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NWS Forecasts
The Sierra Nevadas are predicted to get 5 to 8 feet of snow, with most inhabitants receiving 5 to 8 feet. Travel is advised to be avoided in the following days due to potentially hazardous driving conditions.
"Through the Christmas weekend, a series of Pacific storms will deliver spells of severe low elevation rain and significant mountain snow to the Western US," the National Weather Service tweeted Wednesday.
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It also cautioned that flash floods and debris flows were probable near recently burnt regions.
Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, may have a rare white Christmas. "More and more weather models show enough cold air and moisture will overlap throughout the region beginning Saturday night and continuing into Monday to create accumulating snow near or at the valley bottom," the National Weather Service in Portland tweeted Wednesday night. "Additional waves of snow are likely next week," according to the forecasting agency.
In a subsequent tweet, the National Weather Service in Seattle noted that "widespread heavy precipitation is NOT predicted through Christmas Day," but that "some snow is possible."
According to the forecast service, if Seattle does get snow, it will most likely fall on Saturday evening or Sunday night.
"In the most likely scenario," it stated, "most of the lowlands might experience 3-5" of snow."
According to the weather service, only seven times in 127 years has Seattle seen "measurable" snow on Christmas Day. In 1909, the highest snowfall was 1.8 inches.
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An Uncommon Weather Event
A snowy Christmas is improbable for much of the United States.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration statistics, just 26% of the country, excluding Alaska, was blanketed with snow on Thursday.
US Holiday Season
According to the National Weather Service, a white Christmas is defined as 1 inch or more snow on the ground on Christmas Day.
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