It’s possible that Indianapolis will see snow on Christmas Day in 2022. But whether it’s falling from the sky or already on the ground remains to be seen, according to local forecasters. One thing is certain: this year, Christmas is expected to be very cold.
“The likelihood of a (White Christmas) is significantly higher this year than in the past,” said Andrew White, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. “We’re looking at the potential for somewhere in the Thursday through Friday period that we could likely see some snow accumulation for central Indiana.”
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A higher-level system will move into the region perhaps later in the week, according to White, who said any potential snowfall would likely persist through the weekend as temperatures drop into the single digits and possibly into below zero.
Meteorologists said parts of central Indiana will likely see freezing, windy weather as well. Wind chill Friday and Saturday morning could be as low as -15 to -20 degrees, according to White, who noted that Indianapolis could see one of its coldest Christmases in recent memory.
“It’s definitely going to be a cold Christmas, whether we have snow or not,” White said.
When was the last time Indianapolis had a White Christmas?
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The last time snow fell on Christmas Day in Indianapolis was in 2020, according to data provided last year by the NWS.
Snowfall records for the central Indiana region on Christmas Day have been recorded since 1871. Over the past 151 years, meteorologists say there have been 86 times a trace of snow has fallen or was already on the ground in Indianapolis.
Playing the odds, that gives Indianapolis an overall probability of 57%, which means nearly 6 in 10, on average, will see either a trace of snow on Christmas Day or snow already on the ground, according to the NWS.
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Meteorologists say the greatest Christmas Day snowfall for Indianapolis occurred in 1909 with 5.9 inches blanketing the area. The greatest recorded snow depth occurred more recently, with 9 inches of snow on the ground on Christmas Day in 2004.
Indianapolis Weather
From Tuesday 12 Dec. On February 20, weather forecasters predicted cold and frigid conditions for the central Indiana region before Christmas.
Tuesday: Sunny with an anticyclone close to 38. Calm wind.
Tuesday evening: Increasing cloudiness, with a low around 23. Wind calm.
WednesdayMostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Wind calm becoming east northeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday evening: Scattered rain and snow showers between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., then scattered rain showers after 4 a.m. The chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday: Showers, especially after 1 p.m. South wind around 18 km/h, with gusts up to 29 km/h. The chance of precipitation is 90%. High near 41. Further precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter inch are possible.
Thursday evening: Showers of rain and flurries, changing to snow after 10 p.m. Snow can sometimes be heavy. Widespread blowing snow after 10 p.m. Low around -3. Windy. The chance of precipitation is 90%. Further precipitation amounts between a quarter and a half inch are possible.
FridayScattered snow showers, mostly before 1 p.m. Blowing snow areas. Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 1. Windy. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday night: Scattered blowing snow before 7 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around -2. Fresh.
SaturdayMostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 7. Windy.
Saturday nightMostly cloudy, with a minimum around 0.
the day of ChristmasMostly sunny and cool, with highs near 7.
Sunday night: 20% chance of flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3.
Monday: 30% chance of flurries. Cloudy, with highs near 23.
John Tufts covers the latest evening news and trends for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a topical tip at JTufts@Gannett.com
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