Will it snow in New York City on Christmas?

Rockefeller Center is seen in the snow on December 17, 2020 in New York, the morning after a powerful winter storm hit the US northeastern states. – A major snowstorm hit the US east coast during Thursday’s early hours, creating extra challenges in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic and a mass vaccination rollout taking place across the region.The winter storm, moving over New York, Pennsylvania and other northeastern states, leaves millions facing more than a foot of snow a week before Christmas, potentially disrupting coronavirus testing and delaying holiday deliveries. It also left more than 60 million people under bad weather warnings from Maine to South Carolina. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

by: Jonathan Rizk

Posted: Dec 6, 2023 / 04:06 PM EST

Updated: Dec 6, 2023 / 08:40 PM EST

NEW YORK (PIX11) – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but the question remains: What are the chances New York City sees a white Christmas?

A new survey from EmpireStakes.com, which asked 3,000 people nationwide, showed that 59% of Americans are hoping for a white Christmas. That number jumps to 75% when isolated to just New Yorkers’ opinions, according to the survey.

Data from Climate.gov shows how often each state had at least 1 inch of snow on Dec. 25 between 1991 and 2022.

New York City has roughly a 13.2% chance of getting snow on Christmas, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Meanwhile, the Old Farmer’s Almanac’s white Christmas forecast shows its doubt with an emphatic “there will not be a white Christmas” in the New York City area.

There is a 40% to 50% chance that most of New York will see above-normal temperatures in December, January, and February, the NOAA predicted.

The NOAA also predicted higher-than-average precipitation across the East Coast and northeastern states and drier-than-average amounts for the northern Rockies and Great Lakes.

Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com.