Christmas in Iowa with no snow

CycloneYoda

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2009
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I keep watching the weather forecasts and models, and I hate the idea of having two snowless winters in a row. If this trend continues, it is adios Iowa. Part of the beauty of living in this state is having 4 wonderful seasons. It is now becoming the dry and drier seasons.

Santa, bring me some snow for Christmas.
 

Erik4Cy

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Jan 22, 2007
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Johnston, IA
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Fall is what does it for me in Iowa. as long as we have fall I could care less how mild and snowless the winters are becoming. I will admit I would like snow on Xmas day, but then it can go away immediately after.

Iowa-State-fall-color066.jpg
 
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Jordanj6502

Well-Known Member
Jan 9, 2010
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Historically Des Moines has a 50% chance of a White Christmas (1" or more snow on the ground)

(Source: National Climatic Data Center, via Wikipedia)

white_pg.gif
 

InCytful

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Jun 11, 2010
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Omaha, NE
Be careful what you wish for. Weather pattern could change abruptly, which is one of the truly Iowa things.
 

CycloneYoda

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Jan 27, 2009
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Be careful what you wish for. Weather pattern could change abruptly, which is one of the truly Iowa things.


Drought pattern still holding. I hope this changes soon. My daughter looks for snow everyday because she loves sledding.
 

YIP

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Sep 20, 2011
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I wouldn't put too much stock in long term forecasts. Weathermen have a hard enough time guessing what tomorrow will be like.
Personally, I'd be happy if it never snowed, especially around Christmas. I hate getting up in the middle of the night to push snow and potentially missing Christmas (like two years ago), and nice weather equals longer construction season.
 

besserheimerphat

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Apr 11, 2006
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Mount Vernon, WA
Part of the reason I moved to the Pacific Northwest was to get away from the snow. We are now firmly entrenched in rainy season here. Mount Baker Ski Area, about 45 minutes away from where I live, has between 48" - 60" of snow on the slopes (most in the US according to their website), so I can get a snow fix on my own terms.
 

Tailg8er

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Feb 25, 2011
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Part of the reason I moved to the Pacific Northwest was to get away from the snow. We are now firmly entrenched in rainy season here. Mount Baker Ski Area, about 45 minutes away from where I live, has between 48" - 60" of snow on the slopes (most in the US according to their website), so I can get a snow fix on my own terms.

I thought this phrase was banned around here?? :realmad:
 

HFCS

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Aug 13, 2010
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I had no snow accumulation longer than 12 hours at all last year in Chicago. I know even other neighborhoods and burbs had a day or two of snow cover, but my street didn't have any snow stick all winter, let alone just for the holidays.
 

SC Cy

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Jun 30, 2006
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I had no snow accumulation longer than 12 hours at all last year in Chicago. I know even other neighborhoods and burbs had a day or two of snow cover, but my street didn't have any snow stick all winter, let alone just for the holidays.

I walk to work everyday here in Chicago but still want some snow. I'm with the original poster, I love a white December.
 

Cyclones_R_GR8

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Feb 10, 2007
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I agree. Here in Omaha we're way under for precipitation for the year. I'd even shovel snow for it...

I think we are down over 10 inches of rain this year. That would be one heck of a lot of snow to shovel. But it sure would be nice to see some real rain around here.

The funny part is if it rained for more than a day people would be complaining.
 

tejasclone

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Oct 20, 2006
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Chicago, IL
I don't mind if the snow stays away while I drive 15 hours from Austin to Ames and back. But I do wish for there to be snow on the ground for the week or so while I'm in town.

But I'll still take the mild Christmas last year over the -19 degrees from a couple years ago.
 

Cybirdy

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Sep 10, 2009
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I know the need for snow, but like some I would prefer a white Christmas that dosen't affect my travel plans. My husband and I started dating almost 20 years ago at ISU--our first winter break I went to visit him in Sioux Falls. My Dad drove me from NC Iowa to Blue Earth where I met up with hubby and he drove the rest of the way to SF. For the return trip, it was snowing and blowing and drifting. Dh had a crappy Firenza he drove, we went through drifts where you didn't know if you were on the interstate still or not. Still wondering how we came out of that trip alive. Since then we have had repeat nightmare trips multiple times. Now that we are traveling as a family of 5 with one on the way, I value my familiy's safety more than I do a trip to the IL's. ;) I-90 across southern MN is horrible even with a small amount of snow combining the crappy road and wind blown snow. So it can snow, just after we get back to Iowa after Christmas.