East Coast Snow
 

Is there a place in the East coast that gets snow in December for Christmas? Driving from Florida. My husband is from Jersey so he knows how to drive in snow. And we went to Granby, CO already. It was stunning. But we want to drive this time. We’ll go as far as Buffalo if needed.

It’s absolutely impossible to predict. Where I am in Albany, NY we’ve had debilitating snowstorms in October and 74° Christmas Eves. Buffalo does have a well earned reputation for being snowy. Last year they had HEAPS of snow. Good luck!

It is so random when the snow will actually fall.

I am from NJ and we haven't had a white Christmas in a long time. I think there might have been a dusting last year they day before/after but not much. Normally Christmas is too warm anymore for snow. It doesn't get cold enough until January/February and that's not even guaranteed so my advice is to keep looking at going further north.

I am also a person from the south who would love to see a white Christmas. Here's a crazy idea--go to Iceland. I was there in March and it's an incredible place. Even in Iceland snow isn't guaranteed but your chances are much better. And if you don't see snow, you'll have a chance to see something even more spectacular, and that is the Northern Lights.

Yes, western New York state is likely to have snow for Christmas. You could go to a town like Chautauqua (roughly 1.5 hours south of Buffalo). "The town really comes to life during the wintertime. At places like the Chautauqua Institution, you'll feel like you've stepped into a real Christmas movie. From horse-drawn sleigh rides to holiday storybook readings at the local library and other sorts of holiday cheer, this town really is a delightful place to be. Keep an eye on the events schedule on the Chautauqua Institution website for info.".

Check Western Maryland. Pennsylvania often gets snow if MD. has rain.

As others have stated, it's impossible to predict. However if you are willing to drive up as far as northern New England or NY State, the odds are pretty good. Look at towns like Stowe Vt, Lake Placid NY, Franconia NH.

Just as important as how far north is the elevation. Even north, anything closer to sea level is much less likely to have snow staying on the ground in December. Hence somewhere like VT, or Lake Placid which is at 1800' are more reliable options.

Yes, everyone is right about Lake Placid. "In Lake Placid, in December, during 22.3 snowfall days, 12.91" (328mm) of snow is typically accumulated." That's why the winter Olympics were held there.

hard to predict... but here is historical probablities:

https://www.currentresults.com/Weath...usa-cities.php

I agree to go as far north as you are able, and up to altitude in the mountains (upstate NY, VT, NH, inland Maine). Even then there's no guarantee of a white Christmas.

But in ski areas if it's been cold enough they will have put snow on the slopess.

Now I am wanting snow destination for Christmas too!

What a fun idea!

The Olympics were held in Lake Placid over 40 years ago, and climate change has affected things a lot all over. temps are warmer, there isn't as much predicable snow, etc. I go skiing in the East a lot in the winter, including W MD, WV and VT, and you just can't predict. I think last year or maybe year before, VT had some decent snow some time in December but then didn't have hardly any in January, stuff like that. The resorts want business, of course, and holidays are guaranteed, so they do generally open about Thanksgiving or mid-December, but a lot of that is manmade snow just on the mountain (and even that isn't that good).

Last year there was that huge blizzard for Buffalo in December and it affected parts of VT, but even though I go skiing in N NY just a bit SW of Buffalo (Holiday Valley), they didn't get hardly any from that event. It was weird. Of course then you couldn't be driving around sightseeing having a wonderful time in a blizzard (and that wasn't even the best snow for skiing as it was heavy wet snow).
In fact, Whiteface at Lake Placid doesn't even have that high a base elevation, it's only about 1200 ft. It is higher where I go skiing in WV which also can get decent snow in December (Snowshoe is where I go, plus Timberline near Davis). In fact, despite decent snow some times in WV, W MD last year hardly got any, it was weird.

So unfortunately you cannot predict what will happen very well even that far in advance. But yes, there is a chance you can have a couple inches of snow in any of these places for Christmas. But no guarantee.