Climatologist looks at chances for snowy Christmas
Posted December 19, 2009 10:00 pm
CHAMPAIGN -- The Illinois State Climatologist has analyzed the state's weather history, looking for chances of a snowy Christmas.
State climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey looked at the average of past reports of snow on the ground on Christmas mornings from 2001 to 2008. Angel says the northern portion of Illinois has the highest chance of a snowy Christmas at between 30 and 50 percent.
Angel says Rockford and Chicago have a 38 percent chance of snow on Christmas this year. The rest of Illinois has about a 14 percent chance of a snowy Christmas.
Long-term records show the Christmas Day with the most snow on the ground was in Aurora in 1951, when 31 inches had accumulated after 12 days of snow.