White Christmas This Year? Probably Not

Climate experts at Cornell University have made their annual predictions about the probability of a white Christmas, while noting that December is shaping up as the 12th month in a row of above-normal temperatures in the Northeast.

Pinkham Notch, N.H., tops the list from the Northeast Regional Climate Center with a 95 percent probability of an inch or more of snow on the ground on Dec. 25. New York City gets a 12 percent chance of a white Christmas.

Cornell Climatologist Jessica Rennells says Wednesday the predictions are based on a 50-year average. With above-normal temperatures expected to continue in the Northeast for the next week or two, Rennells says the real odds of a snowy holiday are likely lower than the long-term trend would suggest.

Northeast city probability (percentage):

Pinkham Notch, N.H. 95

Boonville, N.Y. 94

Caribou, Maine 90

St. Johnsbury, Vt. 89

Norfolk, Conn. 79

Ashburnham, Mass. 74

Concord, N.H. 73

Burlington, Vt. 70

Syracuse, N.Y. 68

Oswego, N.Y. 68

Portland, Maine 66

Binghamton, N.Y. 64

Buffalo, N.Y. 62

Ithaca, N.Y. 60

Rochester, N.Y. 58

Erie, Pa. 57

Albany, N.Y. 50

Cleveland, Ohio 48

Beckley, W.Va. 35

Pittsburg, Pa. 34

Providence, R.I. 30

Charleston, W.Va. 28

Bridgeport, Conn. 27

Newark, N.J. 20

Boston, Mass. 20

Wilmington, Del. 14

New York, N.Y. 12

Baltimore, Md. 12

Washington, D.C. 10

Philadelphia, Pa. 10

Atlantic City, N.J. 9

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)