A storm system will produce severe thunderstorms over the Lower Mississippi River Valley, and heavy to excessive rainfall from the Southern Plains through the Ohio River Valley. A strong Pacific storm will bring the potential for flash flooding, severe thunderstorms, strong to locally damaging non-thunderstorm winds, and high elevation snow to the Hawaiian Islands through Friday. Read More >
NWS Flagstaff, AZ
Weather Forecast Office
How often dO Locations across northern Arizona have snow for ChRISTMAS DAY?
Most people think of white snowy scenes with snow gently falling from the sky when picturing the typical weather during Christmas. But how often does this occur in reality? Over the thirty year period from 1981 to 2010, Flagstaff has recorded at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on Christmas 65% of the time. Measurable snowfall only occurred on Christmas 17% of the time.
The table below shows the historical probability of snow on the ground on Christmas Day at many cities in the United States as compiled over the same thirty year period (1981-2010) using data from the National Centers for Environmental Information.
| Location | Historical Probability of snow on the ground for Christmas Day |
| Phoenix, AZ | 0% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 3% |
| Prescott, AZ | 4% |
| Washington, DC | 7% |
| New York City, NY | 8% |
| Reno, NV | 14% |
| Boise, ID | 37% |
| Chicago, IL | 43% |
| Great Falls, MT | 43% |
| Portland, ME | 53% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 67% |
| Lander, WY | 65% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 67% |
| Denver, CO | 68% |
| Madison, WI | 77% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 80% |
| Bismarck, ND | 80% |
| Grand Canyon North Rim | 92% |
| Marquette, MI | 94% |
| Duluth, MN | 97% |
| Blue Canyon, CA | 100% |
| Barrow, AK | 100% |
What AbOUT OTHER holidays IN Flagstaff?
| Holiday | Historical Probability of 1" or more snow on the ground |
Historical Probability of snowfall occurring |
Most amount of snow on the ground |
Year |
| Christmas Day | 56% | 17% | 44 inches | 1967 |
| New Years Day | 61% | 16% | 28 inches | 1968 |
| Valentine's Day | 60% | 26% | 22 inches | 2010 |
| St. Patrick's Day | 25% | 19% | 29 inches | 1973 |
| April Fool's Day | 17% | 24% | 31 inches | 1973 |
US Dept of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
NWS Flagstaff, AZ
49 Hughes Ave
Bellemont, AZ 86015
(928) 556-9161
Comments? Questions? Please Contact Us.
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on YouTube
FGZ RSS Feed