Has there ever been a white Christmas in Arkansas? (2023)

Has there ever been a white Christmas in Arkansas?

In 2004... snow fell in much of northern and central Arkansas on December 22. In the capital city, roughly 3 inches of snow was measured...with 1 inch still on the ground on Christmas Day.

Little Rock has seen temperatures in the 70's on Christmas Day only five times, according to records that span over 140 years. The record for warmest Christmas Day is 73 degrees, so it's safe to say we will likely exceed that record, which has been in place since 1942.

Snowfall in December

Snow flurries can be seen as early as November, but December is the first month substantial snow is recorded in Arkansas. Temperatures average highs of 52 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius) and lows of 34 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) throughout the state.

Winter Weather

Snow generally falls in small amounts throughout the winter; Little Rock sees about 5 inches in a season. More snow falls farther northwest and in the higher elevations of the Ozarks, while in the southeast, the precipitation is more apt to fall as rain.

Little Rock experiences some seasonal variation in monthly snowfall. The snowy period of the year lasts for 2.6 months, from December 9 to February 27, with a sliding 31-day snowfall of at least 1.0 inches. The month with the most snow in Little Rock is January, with an average snowfall of 2.0 inches.

With four distinct, yet temperate, seasons, Arkansas is the perfect year-round vacation destination. Spring and fall are particularly mild with hot and humid days in late summer and during winter months when temperatures occasionally dip into the teens or below, especially with wind chill.

According to The Canadian Farmers' Almanac for 2021, snow will sweep eastward through the province between December 20 and 23 this year. And it looks like the snow will transform into freezing rain just in time for Christmas. "Unsettled conditions move in from the west as we close the book on 2020," it says.

What's the hottest temperature ever recorded in Arkansas?

The record there is 115 degrees, a mark that was set in 2011. It also hit 113 twice in 2011 and then also back in 1936.

Average Temperature in Arkansas City

The cool season lasts for 2.9 months, from November 28 to February 24, with an average daily high temperature below 60°F. The coldest month of the year in Arkansas City is January, with an average low of 36°F and high of 53°F.

The Farmers Almanac's 2022 – 2023 extended winter forecast for Arkansas calls for a “Chilly near normal precipitation” winter. The forecast is pretty vague, but it basically is saying they expect a cooler than average winter with normal rain/snow amounts.

November 2021 to October 2022. Winter will be colder than normal, on average, with the coldest periods in mid-December, early and mid- to late January, and early to mid-February.

Weird and wild weather certainly isn't unusual for Arkansas, but there's one winter that surpasses the rest of our intense arctic outbursts: the Great Blizzard of 1899.

Compared to the rest of the country, Arkansas has a much lower cost of living. Arkansas has the third-lowest cost of living among all U.S. states. A dollar in Arkansas supports more real spending than it does in more expensive states.

Is there a "Tornado Alley" in Arkansas? A. Yes. Since 1950, counties with 35 or more tornadoes are mostly clustered along Interstate 30 and U.S. Highway 67/167.

Is Arkansas good place to live?

The Natural State is one of the top destinations for many families in America. Arkansas's low housing costs, high quality of life, and lots of outdoor recreation make it one of the best places to live in America.

Based on these criteria, California has the best weather of all 50 states. Coastal cities in south and central California, such as San Diego, Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Santa Barbara, experience only 20 inches of rain per year and temperatures typically between the low 60s and 85 degrees.

"Most of Idaho, Minnesota, Maine, upstate New York, the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and, of course, the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada Mountains all have a high probability of seeing a white Christmas," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Other states with reported White Christmases include Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, according to the NWS. We were lucky enough to get a white Christmas this year! It's a beautiful Christmas morning here in Bismarck!

Christmas in Canada is celebrated in much the same way as it is in other Western countries. As it is across the globe, December 25th is the official holiday in Canada, with many Canadians also taking time off on the afternoon of the 24th (Christmas Eve) as well as Boxing Day, celebrated on the 26th.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Spend Christmas in Eureka Springs for an unforgettable holiday season. Don't miss the Eureka Springs Christmas Festival, the annual Silver Tea at the Crescent Hotel, a downtown Christmas parade, and the annual Christmas tree lighting.

By the newer measure, over half of all years have white Christmases, with snow being observed 38 times in the 54 years to 2015.

A White Christmas is Hard to Find

And just 19% of households live where at least 50% of Christmases have been white. America's white Christmas belt runs from the upper Midwest across upstate New York to Maine, especially along the Great Lakes, as well as through the Rockies and other mountainous areas.

What percent of the world has a white Christmas?

That 33 percent comes courtesy of Ethan Gutmann, a hydrologist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in ever-atmospheric Boulder, Colorado.

1 - Leavenworth, Washington

Leavenworth, Washington is the most Christmassy town in America, and it's not surprising why. The town is designed to resemble a Bavarian village and goes big for Christmas, with 21 miles of Christmas lights decorating the town.

Interesting Findings. New Hampshire is the state with the most Christmas spirit in 2021. Utah, which ranked first in 2020, moved down to seventh place this year.

Frankenmuth, Mich.

Home of the world's largest Christmas store, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, Frankenmuth goes all out across town for the holiday itself — but the spirit lives on year-round at this massive retail center.

1. Vermont. Vermont receives more snow per year than any other state with an average of 89.25 inches. Vermont sees about 54 days of snow annually.

More Christmas snowfalls

Other states with reported White Christmases include Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, according to the NWS. We were lucky enough to get a white Christmas this year!

For the best chance of seeing a White Christmas, travelers should head to places like Alaska, Minnesota, Maine, upstate New York, the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and "practically anywhere in Idaho."