TULSA, Okla. — Green Country can occasionally turn white for Christmas, but the chances for snow cover on any given year for the holiday is pretty low. A White Christmas is defined as 1 inch of snow on the ground Christmas morning.
Over the past 70 years, Tulsa has recorded six White Christmases. The most recent White Christmas was in 2009 when nearly half a foot of powder covered the ground. In 2002, 7.5 inches of snow depth were measured on Christmas Day — the most snow recorded for the holiday. Overall, the chances run just below 10 percent on a given year in Tulsa. The chance is 5 percent or lower for southeast Oklahoma.
This year, the chances are a bit higher than average for a White Christmas. Arctic air is expected to arrive a few days before Christmas, which should send us below freezing for several days. The temperatures will certainly be cold enough for a White Christmas. The bigger uncertainty is a round of snow leading up to the big day.
As of Wednesday evening, the FOX23 Severe Weather Team has a slight chance of snow from Thursday, Dec. 22 to Christmas Eve. However, the data has not been consistent in bringing a snow-maker our way yet.
Be sure to stay tuned to the latest forecast leading up to Christmas for the update on any potential wintry weather that could bring us snow just in time for the holiday.