White Christmas? Not this year.

It’s midnight, Dec 19. By the time I publish this, it may be over the edge into Dec. 20, and I’m mourning the fact that we won’t have a white Christmas this year. Oh, there might be a flurry or two, but with daily temperatures in the 40s and 50s, there isn’t much chance the snow will stick.

Here is what the extended forecast for Rochester, NY, looks like for Wednesday through the weekend. [Updated daily w/comments on actual conditions]

Short Term Forecast
forecast.weather.gov

Wednesday: Rain. High near 51. South wind between 9 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. [Update: lots of rain]

Wednesday night: Rain, mainly before 11pm. Low around 39. West wind between 15 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. [Update: more rain]

Thursday: A slight chance of showers before 7am, then a slight chance of showers after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. West wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. [Update: pretty day]

Thursday Night: A chance of rain before 9pm, then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 31. Calm wind becoming north between 5 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. [Update: cold and raw, no snow]

Friday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. North wind between 7 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. [Update: cold, a little rain]

Friday Night: A slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. Chance of precipitation is 20%. [Update: no snow]

Saturday: A chance of snow showers before noon, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: A chance of flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Christmas Day: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday Night: Scattered snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

So, a “chance of snow.” Having lived here since I was seven, I can tell you that a “chance of snow” means either 40oF rain or a blizzard. Not much chance of a blizzard this year. We’ve had pitiful snow this month, near the record low since they’ve been measuring it. Kids are sledding down Cobb’s Hill anyway, throwing showers of mud all over. They are desperate for snow.

I am, too. Even though my arthritic joints get cranky in cold weather, I’d much rather have snow than 40o rain. Really, I would.

WEATHER GODS, ARE YOU LISTENING?!?