The Old Farmer’s Almanac has released its white Christmas forecast for 2026, and some of the regions most accustomed to snowy winters may not see snow on the ground this holiday season.
The annual forecast predicts which parts of the United States could wake up to a snow-covered landscape on December 25. While several northern regions are expected to have a white Christmas, others that typically experience cold, snowy winters could miss out.
According to the National Weather Service, a white Christmas means having at least one inch of snow on the ground on Christmas morning. Snow does not have to fall on December 25 for the holiday to qualify.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s predictions include several unexpected outcomes, particularly for the Midwest and Appalachian regions.
Old Farmer’s Almanac Predicts White Christmas for These Regions in 2026
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Northeast, Intermountain region and Alaska are expected to have a white Christmas in 2026.
Several other areas have a chance of waking up to snow-covered ground, including the Ohio Valley, Lower Lakes, High Plains and Pacific Northwest.
The southern Appalachians are also among the regions that could see a white Christmas.
However, the forecast looks different for the northern Appalachians, which are not expected to have a white Christmas this year.
The Upper Midwest is another region that could miss out, despite typically experiencing some of the country’s coldest and snowiest winter weather.
The Almanac also predicts no white Christmas for the Heartland or Atlantic Corridor.
These forecasts focus on whether snow will be on the ground on Christmas morning, rather than whether snow will fall during the holiday itself.
White Christmas Forecast Brings Unexpected News for the South
For most of the southern United States, the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a Christmas without snow on the ground.
The Southeast, Florida, Deep South, and Texas-Oklahoma regions are all expected to miss out on a white Christmas in 2026.
The southern Appalachians are the exception, with the forecast indicating a chance of snow-covered ground on December 25.
The prediction differs from the outlook for the northern Appalachians, where the Almanac does not expect a white Christmas.
Historical weather data also shows that snow on Christmas morning is relatively uncommon across much of the South.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), much of the Gulf Coast and Deep South historically has less than a 10% chance of having at least one inch of snow on the ground on December 25.
NOAA Data Shows Where a White Christmas Is Most Likely
Although the Old Farmer’s Almanac has issued its 2026 predictions, NOAA’s historical data offers another look at where Americans are most likely to experience a white Christmas.
Based on weather records from 1991 through 2020, parts of Minnesota, Maine, upstate New York, Idaho, and the Rocky Mountains have some of the highest historical chances of snow on Christmas morning.
Those historical averages do not necessarily match the Almanac’s predictions for this year.
For example, the Upper Midwest has historically been among the more reliable regions for Christmas snow, but the Almanac’s 2026 forecast suggests it could miss out.
Will You See a White Christmas in 2026? Old Farmer’s Almanac Reveals Unexpected Snow Predictions