Historical Probability of a White Christmas
(at least 1" of Snow on the Ground)
Denver's Christmas History and Climatology
...White Christmas Probabilities...
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Here is the historical data for Denver since observations began more than a century ago.
If having a white Christmas means having one inch or more of snow on the ground on Christmas Day, then the chances are about 36 percent (45 days in 124 years since snow depth measurements began in 1900).
On the other hand, if a white Christmas means having measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more) on Christmas Day, then the odds drop to about 14 percent (20 days in 142 years since snowfall measurement began in 1882).
Taking a closer look at recent statistics for the last 30 years, Denver has received measurable snowfall on 7 Christmas Days, or 23 percent. Meanwhile, if we look at Christmas Days with 1 inch or more of snow on the ground, then 13 of the last 30 years have been a white Christmas, or 43 percent.
The heaviest snowfall on Christmas Day was 7.8 inches which occurred in 2007. The greatest snow depth ever recorded on the ground, in Denver, on Christmas Day was 24 inches which was measured after the Christmas Eve blizzard of 1982.
| Top 10 Snowiest Christmas's | Top 10 Snow Depths on Christmas | |||||
| (1882-Present) | (1900-Present) | |||||
| Rank | Snowfall | Year | Rank | Depth | Year | |
| 1 | 7.8 | 2007 | 1 | 24 | 1982 | |
| 2 | 6.4 | 1894 | 2 | 19 | 1913 | |
| 3 | 3.4 | 2014 | 3 | 15 | 2006 | |
| 4 | 2.3 | 2015 | 4 | 12 | 1973 | |
| 5 | 1.7 | 1912 | 5 | 11 | 1918 | |
| 6 | 1.5 | 1941 | 6 | 6 | 1941 | |
| 7 | 1.4 | 1939 | 6 | 1924 | ||
| 8 | 1.2 | 1964 | 8 | 5 | 1983 | |
| 9 | 0.7 | 2012 | 5 | 1981 | ||
| 10 | 0.6 | 1916 | 10 | 5 | 1926 | |
Temperature wise the coldest Christmas in Denver was -15 degrees in 1876 while the warmest Christmas was 69 degrees in 2005.
| Top 10 Coldest Christmas's | Top 10 Lowest Max Christmas's | |||||
| (1872-Present) | (1872-Present) | |||||
| Rank | Low | Year | Rank | High | Year | |
| 1 | -15 | 1876 | 1 | 10 | 1876 | |
| 2 | -11 | 1879 | 2 | 13 | 1962 | |
| 3 | -10 | 1983 | 13 | 1983 | ||
| 3 | -8 | 1962 | 4 | 16 | 1878 | |
| 5 | -4 | 1891 | 16 | 2012 | ||
| 6 | -3 | 1878 | 6 | 18 | 1894 | |
| 7 | -2 | 1987 | 18 | 1990 | ||
| -2 | 1884 | 8 | 19 | 1939 | ||
| 9 | -1 | 2009 | 19 | 1987 | ||
| 10 | 0 | 2012 | 10 | 19 | 2017 | |
| Top 10 Warmest Christmas's | Top 10 Warmest Min Christmas's | |||||
| (1872-Present) | (1872-Present) | |||||
| Rank | High | Year | Rank | Low | Year | |
| 1 | 69 | 2005 | 1 | 45 | 1899 | |
| 2 | 66 | 1955 | 2 | 40 | 1872 | |
| 66 | 1971 | 40 | 1889 | |||
| 4 | 65 | 1929 | 40 | 1929 | ||
| 65 | 1946 | 5 | 36 | 1892 | ||
| 65 | 1961 | 6 | 35 | 2005 | ||
| 7 | 63 | 1950 | 7 | 34 | 1883 | |
| 8 | 62 | 1889 | 34 | 1919 | ||
| 62 | 1959 | 9 | 33 | 1950 | ||
| 62 | 1963 | 10 | 32 | 1922 | ||
| 10 | 62 | 1980 | 32 | 1931 | ||
| 32 | 1946 | |||||
| 32 | 1961 | |||||
| Top 10 Wettest Christmas's | ||||||
| (1872-Present) | ||||||
| Rank | Total | Year | ||||
| 1 | 0.61 | 1922 | ||||
| 2 | 0.40 | 1894 | ||||
| 3 | 0.15 | 2007 | ||||
| 4 | 0.14 | 1939 | ||||
| 5 | 0.12 | 2015 | ||||
| 0.12 | 1964 | |||||
| 7 | 0.11 | 1912 | ||||
| 8 | 0.10 | 2014 | ||||
| 9 | 0.06 | 2012 | ||||
| 10 | 0.05 | 1941 | ||||
| 0.05 | 1878 | |||||
Denver's Yearly Christmas Weather Statistics and Climatology since 1872
Average High: 43.3....Warmest...69 (2005)......Coldest....10 (1876)
Average Low: 17.8....Warmest...45 (1899)......Coldest.. -15 (1876)
Greatest Snowfall...7.8" (2007)...Greatest Snow Depth...24" (1982)
The following is a list of years going back to 1872 that includes Snow Depth, Snowfall, and Highs and Lows for each Christmas Day.
(Daily Snow Depth is not available prior to 1900, while Daily Snowfall is not available before 1882)
(Snow Depth since 1952 has been taken between 5 am and 6 am), (Prior to 1952 Snow Depth was taken in the evening)
|
Year |
Snow Depth |
Snowfall |
High |
Low |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 8 |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 27 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 26 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 31 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 23 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 20 |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 2 |
| 2016 | Trace | Trace | 46 | 20 |
| 2015 | 1 | 2.3 | 26 | 15 |
| 2014 | 0 | 3.4 | 46 | 19 |
|
2013 |
0 |
0 |
42 |
15 |
| 2012 | 2 | 0.7 | 16 | 0 |
|
2011 |
3 |
0 |
35 |
19 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 17 |
| 2009 | 3 | Trace | 24 | -1 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 12 |
| 2007 | 8 | 7.8 | 32 | 13 |
| 2006 | 15 | 0.2 | 43 | 11 |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 35 |
| 2004 | Trace | 0 | 53 | 28 |
| 2003 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 26 |
| 2002 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 11 |
| 2001 | Trace | 0 | 38 | 20 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0.9 | 24 | 16 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 29 |
| 1998 | 3 | 0 | 48 | 28 |
| 1997 | 2 | 0.5 | 25 | 13 |
| 1996 | Trace | 0 | 54 | 5 |
| 1995 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 19 |
| 1994 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 27 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 25 |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 20 |
| 1991 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 18 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 2 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 15 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 17 |
| 1987 | 4 | 0 | 19 | -2 |
| 1986 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 18 |
| 1985 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 24 |
| 1984 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 20 |
| 1983 | 5 | 0.4 | 13 | -10 |
| 1982 | 24 | 0.2 | 31 | 1 |
| 1981 | 5 | 0 | 41 | 13 |
| 1980 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 26 |
| 1979 | 4 | 0 | 50 | 16 |
| 1978 | Trace | 0 | 34 | 16 |
| 1977 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 8 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 5 |
| 1975 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 27 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 9 |
| 1973 | 12 | 0.1 | 42 | 11 |
| 1972 | Trace | 0 | 43 | 27 |
| 1971 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 26 |
| 1970 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 4 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 10 |
| 1968 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 18 |
| 1967 | 0 | Trace | 40 | 24 |
| 1966 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 7 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 | 58 | 22 |
| 1964 | 1 | 1.2 | 53 | 11 |
| 1963 | Trace | 0 | 62 | 27 |
| 1962 | 1 | Trace | 13 | -8 |
| 1961 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 32 |
| 1960 | Trace | 0 | 50 | 28 |
| 1959 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 30 |
| 1958 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 22 |
| 1957 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 27 |
| 1956 | Trace | 0 | 47 | 16 |
| 1955 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 23 |
| 1954 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 25 |
| 1953 | Trace | 0 | 53 | 19 |
| 1952 | Trace | 0 | 34 | 4 |
| 1951 | Trace | 0 | 39 | 15 |
| 1950 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 33 |
| 1949 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 13 |
| 1948 | 3 | 0 | 20 | -1 |
| 1947 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 29 |
| 1946 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 32 |
| 1945 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 26 |
| 1944 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 10 |
| 1943 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 28 |
| 1942 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 29 |
| 1941 | 6 | 1.5 | 24 | 9 |
| 1940 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 30 |
| 1939 | 2 | 1.4 | 19 | 15 |
| 1938 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 24 |
| 1937 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 23 |
| 1936 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 30 |
| 1935 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 15 |
| 1934 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 18 |
| 1933 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 25 |
| 1932 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 22 |
| 1931 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 32 |
| 1930 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 16 |
| 1929 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 40 |
| 1928 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 28 |
| 1927 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 16 |
| 1926 | 5 | 0 | 34 | 10 |
| 1925 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 28 |
| 1924 | 6 | 0 | 39 | 9 |
| 1923 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 23 |
| 1922 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 32 |
| 1921 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 15 |
| 1920 | 2 | 0.2 | 34 | 14 |
| 1919 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 34 |
| 1918 | 11 | 0 | 32 | 4 |
| 1917 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 25 |
| 1916 | 2 | 0.6 | 23 | 1 |
| 1915 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 16 |
| 1914 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 14 |
| 1913 | 19 | 0 | 32 | 3 |
| 1912 | 2 | 1.7 | 31 | 7 |
| 1911 | 2 | 0.2 | 20 | 1 |
| 1910 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 19 |
| 1909 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 10 |
| 1908 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 20 |
| 1907 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 21 |
| 1906 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 26 |
| 1905 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 14 |
| 1904 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 7 |
| 1903 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 18 |
| 1902 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 23 |
| 1901 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 20 |
| 1900 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 26 |
| 1899 | NA | 0 | 59 | 45 |
| 1898 | NA | 0 | 46 | 17 |
| 1897 | NA | 0 | 45 | 20 |
| 1896 | NA | 0 | 54 | 23 |
| 1895 | NA | 0 | 30 | 7 |
| 1894 | NA | 6.4 | 18 | 8 |
| 1893 | NA | 0 | 47 | 14 |
| 1892 | NA | 0 | 50 | 36 |
| 1891 | NA | 0.5 | 22 | -4 |
| 1890 | NA | 0 | 48 | 22 |
| 1889 | NA | 0 | 58 | 40 |
| 1888 | NA | 0.4 | 38 | 19 |
| 1887 | NA | 0 | 43 | 21 |
| 1886 | NA | 0 | 54 | 29 |
| 1885 | NA | 0 | 57 | 24 |
| 1884 | NA | 0 | 29 | -2 |
| 1883 | NA | 0 | 37 | 34 |
| 1882 | NA | 0 | 35 |
12 |
| 1881 | NA | NA | 49 |
30 |
| 1880 | NA | NA | 53 | 22 |
| 1879 | NA | NA | 32 | -11 |
| 1878 | NA | NA | 16 | -3 |
| 1877 | NA | NA | 33 | 20 |
| 1876 | NA | NA | 10 | -15 |
| 1875 | NA | NA | 50 | 18 |
| 1874 | NA | NA | 41 | 10 |
| 1873 | NA | NA | 53 | 25 |
| 1872 | NA | NA | 55 | 40 |
Christmas Summaries for Denver
...Christmas Day 2023...
Snowfall occurred around the Metro area on Christmas Eve Day and the day after Christmas as a blizzard affected portions of the northeast Plains. However, on Christmas Day, the official reading at DIA had no snow on the ground although areas near the foothills and over southwestern Denver did have a covering of snow around an inch deep.
...Christmas Day 2022...
Although it ended up being a mild and dry Christmas with a high of 49 degrees and a 2" snow depth, the weather was considerably different a few days earlier. On December 22nd, the low temperature was -24 degrees with a high of -6 degrees. The average mean temperature of -15 degrees was the 2nd coldest on record for Denver. Furthermore the low of -24 degrees was the coldest temperature Denver had seen since December of 1990. In addition, 3 to 6 inches of snow fell across the Denver metro area, from the evening on December 21st through the early morning on December 22nd.
...Christmas Day 2021...
It was a mild and dry Christmas with a high of 55 degrees and no snow on the ground. In fact 0.01" of rain was recorded on Christmas Eve Day.
...Christmas Day 2020...
A dry and warm Christmas occurred with light winds and sunny skies. The high temperature reached 60 degrees, tying the twelfth warmest Christmas for Denver. No snow was on the ground.
...Christmas Day 2019...
It was another dry Christmas with no snow on the ground. Temperatures were above normal with a high of 54.
...Christmas Day 2018...
It was dry on Christmas Day with no snow on the ground. Temperatures were slightly above normal with a high of 47.
...Christmas Day 2017...
A period of snow occurred Saturday Evening on 12/23 with 1 to 4 inches of snowfall across northeast Colorado. This snowfall, combined with cold temperatures through Christmas Day, allowed for a white Christmas in many areas. The high temperature in Denver was only 19 after a morning low of 2.
...Christmas Day 2016...
A strong storm system moved quickly across northern Colorado Christmas Day which brought strong winds to the foothills and western suburbs of the Denver metro area. Winds of 80 to 100 mph occurred in the foothills with gusts from 60 to 80 mph across the western suburbs of the Denver metro area. Denver International Airport briefly had snow along with a thunderstorm around midday, however, only a trace of snow fell. Across the northeast plains a few inches of snow accumulated in some areas.
...Christmas Day 2015...
Light Snow developed over portions of the area by midday and lingered through the afternoon. A period of heavier snow occurred in the early evening hours with accumulations ranging from 2 to 4 inches across the Denver metro area. Officially 2.3" of snow fell at Denver International Airport. This was the second Christmas in a row that measurable snow occurred which is extremely rare. Furthermore this was the first time on record that snowfall exceeded 1" or more on consecutive Christmas Days.
...Christmas Day 2014...
Christmas Day started out dry and mild. However, snow began to fall late in the afternoon and continued through the night. 3.4" of snow was officially reported at Denver International Airport by Midnight with a total of 4.4" by the following morning. Across the Denver Metro area, amounts ranged from 3 to 6 inches with 8 to 10 inches in the far western suburbs and around Boulder.
...Christmas Day 2013...
Near normal temperatures were experienced with a high of 42. Dry conditions prevailed with no snow on the ground.
...Christmas Day 2012...
Snow began on the evening of December 24th and then gradually ended by sunrise on Christmas morning. 2.6" of new snow was recorded at Denver International Airport with a Christmas morning snow depth of 2". Snow accumulations were generally in the 2 to 4 inch range around Denver with up to 6 inches in Boulder. Christmas 2012 made 6 of the last 7 years in which at least 1 inch of snow has been on the ground for Christmas Day. The last time this happened was from 1987 through 1993. Meanwhile the high temperature in Denver was 16 degrees which was the 3rd coldest on record for Christmas Day.
...Christmas Day 2011...
A snowstorm affected the Front Range from the evening on December 21st which ended by midday on December 22nd. The official snowfall for Denver was 7.3" however snowfall amounts over much of the Denver Metro area ranged from 8 to 12 inches, with locally up to 15 inches near the foothills. In the foothills to the west and southwest of Denver snowfall accumulations of 18" to 36" occurred with the storm. The official Snow Depth was 3 inches on Christmas Day with a High of 35 degrees and a Low of 19 degrees. In 5 out of the last 6 years there has been at least one inch of snow on the ground for Christmas Day. The last time this happened was from 1988 through 1993.
...Christmas Day 2010...
Christmas Day 2010 was mild and dry with a high of 52 degrees and a low of 17.
...Christmas Day 2009...
Christmas Day 2009 was the 4th white Christmas in a row, with snow falling off and on from December 22nd through December 26th. A total of 7.8 inches of snow was recorded during that time frame, with the 23rd recording the most snowfall with 4.9 inches. Only a trace of new snowfall was recorded on Christmas Day. Snow depth peaked at 5 inches on Christmas Eve, settling down to 3 inches on Christmas Day. Temperatures were quite cold with a high of only 24 degrees and a low temperature of 1 below zero!
...Christmas Day 2008...
Christmas 2008 featured dry weather and near normal temperatures, with a high of 48 and a low of 12. Even though there was no snowfall on the date, there was still one inch of snow on the ground Christmas morning, officially making it a white Christmas.
...Christmas Day 2007...
A record 7.8 inches of snowfall occurred on Christmas Day 2007 as a winter storm hit northeast Colorado. This broke the old record of Christmas Day snowfall which was 6.4 inches set all the way back in 1894. Another storm struck just 2 days later on the 27th with an additional 5.4 inches of snowfall.
...Christmas Day 2006...
Christmas 2006 will be remembered as another truly white Christmas. The Denver area had just dug out of the December 20-21 blizzard which buried the city under nearly 2 feet of snowfall. There was still 15 inches of snow on the ground Christmas morning, and a light dusting of new snow (officially 0.2 inches) fell on Christmas Eve. Temperatures were near normal with a high of 43 and a low of 11 degrees.
...Christmas Day 2005...
Record warmth occurred on Christmas Day 2005 with a high temperature reaching 69 degrees under sunny skies. The low temperature was only 35.
...Christmas Day 2004...
After a brief cold snap and a few flurries from the 21st through the 23rd, temperatures warmed to above normal levels by Christmas with a high of 53 and a low of 28 degrees. Only a trace of snow was recorded on the ground Christmas morning.
...Christmas Day 2003...
It was a dry and mild day with a high of 51 degrees and a low of 26.
...Christmas Day 2002...
2002 was the driest year in Denver weather history, and December's weather didn't do anything to help. Only a trace of snow was recorded during the entire month, with no snow falling Christmas Day. Temperatures were cool with a high and low of 36 and 11 degrees, respectively.
...Christmas Day 2001...
This was another cool Christmas with a high of 38 degrees and a low of 20. No snow fell, but a trace of snow was left on the ground after a light 0.6 inch snowfall on the 22nd.
...Christmas Day 2000...
Late on Christmas Eve, light snow began to fall across the Denver metro area. The light snow continued until late evening on Christmas Day, totaling 0.9 inch. The official temperature for Christmas Day only reached 24 degrees after a morning low of 16.
(Click on any Point on the Map for the latest Holiday Forecast)
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