White Christmas?

As Bing sang so eloquently...and many of us desire to witness, a white Christmas is possibly on the docket for next week.  In fact, I feel that there are 2 very possibilities of snowfall next week; a minor event on Christmas Day and a major event a few days past!  Let me explain...First, look at this monster today that is most undoubtedly wreaking havoc with the best of travel plans in the Midwest today!

With such a strong temperature and pressure gradient, there is no doubt these cyclones will develop to do their dirty work and mix the contrasting air masses about.  Blizzards complete with thundersnows in IA and WI, tornadoes in AL and the panhandle of FL...followed by freeze warnings...20' waves on Lake Michigan...it's all about the cyclone.  The sleet that was observed today shows that the antecedent air mass in place is still quite cold and that some fun 'n' games are just around the corner as the next few storms pass this way!  Here is the upstairs view Mr. 984 mb!

This storm will usher in polar air of O Canadian origin that is actually quite cold.  Frankly, we will be experiencing "normal" temps with some gusty winds the next couple of days...and it will feel like the remote hinterlands of the frozen tundra since we've had such an easy time of it to date this December.  However, this storm will lay down snow as will the subsequent lake effect which will not allow air masses advecting SE to as quickly modify...thus cold breeds colds; snow breeds snow!  Therefore, the next system coming will have a bit more antecedent cold air and thus the potential for a white as opposed to a wet event...here is the numerical prog GFS style for Christmas morning...just after midnight mass...

Gut feeling is the the low pressure will consolidate into a bit more of a precip event and therefore deliver the white goods in the neighborhood of 1-3" of snow for Christmas Day.  It is a gutsy call...but the other other global models suggest something in that general quantity...but that is the appetizer or should i say...appe-teaser for this beautiful scenario!

Yokes...if this verifies...you'll get to test that blower for the darn cul de sac!  For me, I may make snow angels until the New Year!  Then...in this storm's wake, look at that beautiful cold high coming down from Lake Winnipeg!  I just might have to pinch myself if this winter starts to...well...act like winter!  The GFS seems to think that by next weekend, we might be buried in these parts!

OK...enough for now.  Let me leave you with another Sarah McLachlan take of an older poem written by Christina Rosetti.  It was voted as the best Christmas carol in 2008 by those musical gurus who would know!  I just think the lyrics and the song are awesome...enjoy!

And enjoy your upcoming holidays...Christmas and New Years for me...whatever you might celebrate for y'all.  Just be safe and enjoy!

Smitty

AA:  Looking for winter to pay us a visit next week with 2 accumulating snows by next weekend.  One minor and one MAJOR!   Or as I might say...crippling?  At the very least, highly impactful!