Salisbury does not often see a White Christmas. Here is a trivial look at our history.
- The last time that Salisbury saw snow on Christmas Day was in 2010, however it does not qualify as a White Christmas. Why? The National Weather Service defines a White Christmas, in deference to the famous poem we all know and love, as waking up to an inch or more of snow on the ground at 7 AM. Salisbury did not record its inch of snow until the evening that year.
- Interestingly enough, 2009 represents Salisbury’s last White Christmas. We woke up to snow on the ground as a result of a December 18-19 snowstorm. The snow covered ground was bare by evening because temperatures topped out at 56 degrees.
- Salisbury’s most substantial White Christmas snowfall occurred in 1966 when we woke up to 6 inches of snow.
- Since 2000 Salisbury has seen just the one official White Christmas.
- Salisbury has recorded snow on Christmas Day just 3 times since 2000.
- The National Weather Service estimates Salisbury’s historical probability of a White Christmas at 8%….just twice every 25 years.
- Other interesting weather records for Salisbury since 2000 include topping 70 degrees twice. Most recently was 2015. My station recorded a high of 73 degrees while Salisbury’s official temperature at the airport was 76.
- Our windiest Christmas Day in Salisbury this century was in 2008 when winds gusted to 34 mph.
- If this year’s predicted high temperatures come to fruition it will mark three consecutive years of Salisbury highs in the 40’s. That represents the only time this century.
- Salisbury’s coldest high temperature on Christmas Day was 16 degrees in 1983.
- Our coldest night time temperature was 2 degrees in 1989.
- The historical probability of precipitation on Christmas Day for Salisbury is 36%. Obviously we get more rain than snow.
While cookies and carrots may be the traditional treats left for Santa and the reindeer, residents in the Southwest may want to leave a glass of water or maybe even some Gatorade to replenish big St. Nick from what might be a warmer-than-usual journey: https://t.co/4etoZvavbw pic.twitter.com/CfY7Qxn7pY
— Breaking Weather by AccuWeather (@breakingweather) December 19, 2020