It’s a question that comes around every festive season: will it snow on Christmas Day this year? Let’s take a look at what the experts are saying, and see if we can perhaps look forward to a white Christmas in 2021.
Winter has well and truly arrived in Germany, with snow and cold temperatures enveloping parts of the country. Naturally, this has set German imaginations into overdrive, as they dream of a white Christmas. However, over the past few days, milder weather has hit the country, dashing hopes that the snow will remain until the national holiday.
It is difficult for meteorologists to accurately predict whether snow will fall on Christmas Day, especially in the early weeks of December. However, as it gets closer to Christmas, weather models can provide more accurate predictions, and the latest forecasts have reignited the hope that Germany will see snow on December 25. "A downward trend in temperatures following the fourth Advent is currently becoming more likely day by day," said meteorologist Christian Häckl.
Häckl pointed out that a so-called borderline weather situation (Grenzwetterlage) could arise. This occurs when two weather fronts meet and create unstable weather conditions. "This increases the chances of a white Christmas almost nationwide in Germany.”
Meteorologists expect Germany’s mountainous regions to see snow on Christmas this year. Meteorologist Carlo Pfaff has estimated that the probability of snow in the mountains sits between 50 to 80 percent, maybe even 90 percent in some cases. Pfaff explained that the possibility of snow in these areas depends on the altitude, so the more low-lying mountain ranges in the west of Germany have lower probabilities. However, if temperatures continue to plummet then the likelihood of snow could increase significantly.
Meteorologists are expecting colder temperatures across the country as we approach the Christmas period, due to areas of low pressure gathering in the east. This could bring extremely cold temperatures from Siberia and, if this does occur, snow on Christmas might not be confined to our dreams after all.
Unfortunately, however, other weather models are predicting milder temperatures across the country over the holidays - especially if the cold eastern front doesn’t make its way over Germany. The situation will become clearer as we get closer to the day, so for now all we can do is hope and pray for the magical possibility of snow on Christmas Day.