Christmas Weather Alerts Issued for 3 States, With Snow, Freezing Rain Due

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter weather messages for several states as snow and gusty winds are expected on Christmas Day.

Several states can expect snow and blizzard conditions through Christmas Eve and into the big day itself on Monday. Kansas, South Dakota and Nebraska all have winter weather warnings in place tomorrow from the NWS.

In Kansas, Washington and Marshall Counties are looking at a white Christmas on Monday when 2 to 4 inches of snow are expected to fall. Drivers have been warned that slippery road conditions are likely and blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.

In South Dakota, the areas of Bennett County, Mellette County, Todd County and Southern Jackson County, as well as the Tribal Lands of the Pine Ridge Reservation and the Rosebud Reservation have a winter weather advisory and a storm watch in effect from Monday afternoon.

Stock image of snow plows in action on a highway. Three states are likely to have areas that will get a much-coveted white Christmas this year. GETTY

Around 1 to 3 inches of snow are expected to fall accompanied by wind gusts of up to 45mph. The NWS warns that travel could be “very difficult to impossible” and that strong winds and snow could significantly reduce visibility and cause tree damage.

In Tripp County, South Dakota, as much as 4 inches of snow are expected to fall with wind gusts reaching 40mph that are expected to bring down tree branches in the area. Drivers have been warned to slow down and use caution as white-out conditions can be expected.

Nebraska is expecting similar snowy conditions throughout Christmas Day and beyond. In Mitchell, Osborne, and Rooks Counties, snow and high wind conditions are likely starting from midnight through to 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Road conditions are likely to be slippery, the NWS has warned.

Elsewhere, a white Christmas is unlikely, a big change from 2022, when more than half of the contiguous U.S. had at least 1 inch of snow on the morning of December 25. According to the Weather Channel, a white Christmas is when “there’s at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on Christmas morning.” Odds of a white Christmas are highest if you live in the Mountain West, Northern Tier and northern New England, according to the forecaster.

Weather Channel maps show a likelihood of snow in Colorado, Utah, North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California. On the East Coast, small pockets of snow are likely in New York, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. However, none of these states currently have warnings or messages out from the NWS.

Newsweek has contacted the National Weather Service via email for comment.

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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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