A WHITE CHRISTMAS?
Nov. 26, 2023 - With Thanksgiving behind us and December just days away, the looming question on everyone’s mind is whether we can expect a white Christmas this year. The Holiday Times own meteorologist, Stormy Wethers, says that chances are good. “It’s still early days, of course, and weather conditions will undoubtedly vary by region across the U.S., but I do think the odds are better than fifty percent that much of the country will see snow on the ground on or before Christmas day.”
Traditionalists, especially throughout the North, prefer a white Christmas, as do the reindeer that pull Santa’s sleigh. According to expert Heike Hætta, whose family has herded reindeer for several generations, the animals, which are native to the North Pole, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, as well as northern Europe and Asia, are happiest in cold weather and can withstand temperatures as low as minus ninety-four degrees Fahrenheit or even colder. “But they’re not crazy about heat and humidity,” he added.
He also noted that their eyes adapt to different seasons, with the layer that reflects light turning deep blue in the winter, providing greater sensitivity, which helps them see in the dark. “All of which,” according to Mr. Hætta, “makes them perfect for pulling a sleigh on a cold, dark, winter night.”
Meteorologist Stormy Wethers predicts an inch or more of snow on or before Christmas Day for much of the country.
Will Santa’s hooved helpers get their wish for a cold and snowy trip? We’ll just have to wait and see.
