New York City woke up to its first white Christmas in 15 years. But only a few areas of the U.S. are likely to see snow in the weather forecast for Christmas 2024.

It need not snow on Christmas Day. The USA's fascination with a white Christmas dates back to 1942, when Bing Crosby first crooned the wistful song in the film Holiday Inn.

Their record Christmas snow depth is 9 inches in 1984. Seven years ago, Seattle and Portland experienced their sixth white Christmas on record. Seattle had 2 inches of snow that Christmas morning.

The storm dropped a record 16.4 inches of snow on the city, and remains the worst December blizzard on record for D.C. There have been thirteen Christmas Days with over one inch of snow on the ground.

Snow was already on the ground on Christmas day in 1876, 1963, and 2004. On average, about once every ten years, snow is either covering the ground or falling from the sky.