Will Denver Have a White Christmas? Here’s the Latest Snow Forecast.

This year, one major forecast is saying there's a chance.

December 18, 2024

Denver is usually more snowy in March than December, but historically, Mile High is the most likely city in the United States to have a white Christmas, according to AccuWeather. Evan Semon

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Will Denver get snow on Christmas this year? That question is on the minds of many, from romantics to anyone who has to drive to a relative's house.

This year, one major forecast is saying there's a chance.

According to a forecast by AccuWeather, Denver has a medium chance of a white Christmas, which is relatively good news, considering that much of the country has a low chance or no chance at all.

One inch of snow has to be on the ground for record books to consider the day a "white Christmas," according to AccuWeather. Denver was projected to have a cold, snowy winter this year, and we've already seen a few big storms. Plus, the mountains are getting plenty of snow.

Paul Pastelok, an AccuWeather expert, says Colorado mountain towns have a great chance for a white Christmas while some lower elevations could have their frosty dreams put at risk.

click to enlarge

Here's the likelihood of a white Christmas across the county.

AccuWeather

"Lower elevations in the Rockies have been missing out on snow in recent weeks,” Pastelok notes in a December 16 advisory. “The storm track is not looking favorable for producing more snow before Christmas. The lack of precipitation could lower the odds of a white Christmas from the Foothills into the central High Plains.”

However, AccuWeather's long-range experts say a strong cold front could bring a blast of colder air through the plains and Midwest next weekend, which might help snow hit Denver, too. Thanks to that strong cold front, AccuWeather forecasts a medium probability for Denver.

Denver is usually more snowy in March than December, but historically, the Mile High is the most likely city in the United States to have a white Christmas, according to AccuWeather, with 34 percent of Christmases from 1991 to 2020 having snow on the ground. That's the highest rate in the country during that time, with Chicago right behind at 33.5 percent.

Denver's last official white Christmas was in 2022, when there were two inches of snow on the ground by Christmas morning. Last year, a snowstorm rolled in on Christmas night and the day after, with around two to four inches falling.

The snowiest Christmas in Denver history was in 2007, when 7.8 inches fell on Christmas Day

See an updated weekly weather forecast in Denver below.

DENVER WEATHER

Catie Cheshire is a staff writer at Westword, where she has primarily reported on news since September 2021. Her prior work experience includes contributing to Cronkite News, Arizona PBS, the Regis University Highlander and AZ Big Media. Catie holds a master's degree from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and an undergraduate degree from Regis University in Denver.

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