Southern Colorado Christmas Weather Facts

Wishing for a "White Christmas"? There are varying definitions pertaining to what exactly is a “White Christmas”. Some use only snowfall data, while others use only snow depth data and yet others which use both data sets to define a “White Christmas”. In the following “Christmas Facts” data, compiled from the Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Alamosa climate records, we have defined a “White Christmas” as greater than 0.5 inches of snow falling on December 25th with at least 1 inch of snow on the ground.

For those using just snow depth data, the following link from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI former NCDC) gives historical probabilities of at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on December 25^th across the country:  https://noaa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=b84e9ad7fa6d4c2da15001efc048c809

Either way, the chances are not very good if you are wishing for a “White Christmas” across much of Southeast Colorado, as the following data indicates. 

While Christmas 2024 is still 10 days away, some longer range model data indicates the potential for mainly mountain precipitation on Christmas Day, as a weather disturbance could move across the Rockies through the day on December 25th. How strong this disturbance will be, as well as its actual track and timing across the region remains in question at this time, so stay tuned to the forecast for Christmas 2024. Those planning travel across the region through the Christmas Holiday can stay up to date on the latest forecasts by following the links below:

  Forecast for South Central and Southeast Colorado 

Forecasts for the rest of the United States 

Christmas in Colorado Springs 

 SNOWFALL
Record Snowfall: 2.3 inches in 1911

Number of times with a trace or more......21
Number of times with an inch or more.....6
Climatological chance of a trace or more...16%
Climatological chance of an inch or more...5%

Last measurable snowfall on Christmas Day: 2012 (0.4 inches) 

SNOW ON THE GROUND
Record Snow on Ground: 7.0 inches in 1982.

Number of times with a trace or more.......29
Number of times with an inch or more......19
Climatological chance of a trace or more....40%
Climatological chance of an inch or more...26%

Snowfall records are in inches, from 1894 to the present.
Snow on the ground is at 5 am from 1948 to the present.
Snow depth records missing for 1996.

By our definition, the last “White Christmas” was in 1987 when there was an inch of snow throughout the day, along with an inch of snow on the ground in the morning. Before that, the next previous “White Christmas” was in 1976 when there was an inch of snow during the day and an inch of snow on the ground in the morning.  While technically not a "White Christmas" by our definition, through out Christmas Eve Day (December 24th) of 1982, Colorado Springs recorded 0.60 inches of precipitation and 7.0 inches of snow. 

Christmas Day 2016 brought an unusual surprise of early morning rain showers, with 0.26 inches of precipitation and no snow to the Colorado Springs Airport. Christmas Day 1994 brought another unusual surprise to the north end of Colorado Springs, and the area northward to Castle Rock. At 1206 pm, a 4.0 earthquake rocked the region, shaking houses and buildings with no major damage reported.

 Christmas in Pueblo  

SNOWFALL
Record Snowfall: 5.1 inches in 1987

Number of times with a trace or more......20
Number of times with an inch or more.....7
Climatological chance of a trace or more...15%
Climatological chance of an inch or more...5%

Last measurable snowfall on Christmas Day: 2012 (0.2 inches) 

SNOW ON THE GROUND
Record Snow on Ground: 8.0 inches in 2011.

Number of times with a trace or more.......21
Number of times with an inch or more......13
Climatological chance of a trace or more....29%
Climatological chance of an inch or more...18%

Snowfall records are in inches, from 1888 to the present.
Snow on the ground is at 5 am from 1948 to the present.

By our definition, the last “White Christmas” occurred in 2000. The snow began falling shortly before midnight Christmas Eve, with only trace amounts reported through the morning hours. The snow began to pick up during the afternoon hours and ended shortly before midnight, with a total snowfall of 1.8 inches. The next previous "White Christmas” occurred in 1987, when there was 1 inch of snow on the ground at 5 am that morning, and a record total of 5.1 inches falling for the day. The last time before that was in 1976. There was 1 inch of snow on the ground that Christmas morning, with an additional 0.6 inches falling that day.

While not a white Christmas, an extremely rare event occurred early Christmas morning in 2016, when thunderstorms producing heavy rain and small hail moved through the Pueblo area during the pre-dawn hours. This is the only time such an event has been record since 1939, when thunderstorm and hail stats began.
 

  Christmas in Alamosa  

 SNOWFALL
Record Snowfall: 3.5 inches in 1942

Number of times with a trace or more.........19
Number of times with an inch or more..........8
Climatological chance of a trace or more.........21%
Climatological chance of an inch or more..........9%

Last measurable snowfall on Christmas Day: 2016 (1.5 inches) 

SNOW ON THE GROUND
Record Snow on Ground: 10.0 inches in 1991

Number of times with a trace or more............51
Number of times with an inch or more...........40
Climatological chance of a trace or more..........55%
Climatological chance of an inch or more.........43%

Snowfall records are in inches, from 1932 to the present.
Snow on the ground is at 5 am MST
(7 am MST from 1984 - 1991 due to part-time staffing).

By our definition, the last "White Christmas" was in 2016. 1.5 inches of snow fell between midnight and 3 AM, with the a snow depth of 5 inches. Prior to this event, the next most recent event occurred in 200, when there was six inches of snow on the ground at 5 am that morning. While no snow fell during the day, around sunset it began to fall, with a total of 2 inches falling Christmas evening. The last time before that was in 1997. There was six inches of snow on the ground at 5 am that morning, with a total of 1.1 inches falling for the day. Going back yet another 10 years, we arrive at the next most recent white Christmas, which occurred in 1987. There was 3 inches of snow on the ground that Christmas morning, with 2.4 inches falling that day.