White Christmas ‘probable’ in St. John’s

Weather Network says you’ll have to wait and see

The Weather Network says it will probably be a white Christmas in St. John’s.

Wet weather throughout Atlantic Canada leading up to Christmas Day will make it a last-minute call as to what areas of Newfoundland and Labrador will have a white Christmas.

On the Weather Network’s list of Canadian cities, St. John’s is tagged as “probable” when it comes to having a white Christmas, the same as Fredericton, N.B.

Halifax is listed has having a slight chance.

Rain changing to snow, and a mix of both, can be expected at times, and which weather pattern proves the strongest will determine how much, if any, of the white stuff remains on the ground for the big day and following week.

A news release from the Weather Network states that with streams of Arctic air descending straight from the North Pole, the networks’s holiday snow report is forecasting one of the coldest Christmases in quite some time for parts of Canada.

“It’s safe to say Canadians will be tracking more than Santa’s sleigh this Christmas Eve,” said Chris Scott, chief meteorologist with the Weather Network. “This active weather pattern has the potential to bring a wide range of precipitation types — snow, rain, freezing rain — so those planning to travel over the holidays should keep a close eye on the fastchanging weather.”

For Atlantic Canada, wet weather during the final weekend before Christmas is expected, and there is potential for another system during Christmas Day.

A more wintery pattern is expected during the week between Christmas and New Year’s, with colder temperatures and the potential for an active storm track affecting the region.

On Dec. 25, 2016 in St. John’s, according to Environment Canada, there was some rain and fog for most of the day, with some snow, and blowing snow during the night. On Christmas Day in 2015, there was rain with periods of clear skies and cloudy skies later in the day.