The chance of a white Christmas is only 11 percent for Wichita in any given year, but this year, the chance is much better as a storm system will emerge from the western U.S. Christmas Day. 

 

This will not be a major winter storm, but light snow should develop in western Kansas Christmas Eve night, and slowly spread east by Christmas afternoon. At this time, snowfall accumulations are expected to remain light, with the best chance for accumulations in western Kansas. Some areas could see three or four inches, while much of central and southern Kansas will likely seeing less than one inch.

 

A blizzard is also not likely for Kansas, but some of the wind gusts on Christmas could get up to 25 mph, which may create some blowing snow. Much colder Arctic air is also expected to arrive on Christmas with highs in the teens for much of the area. Overnight lows could dip below zero. Kansans should expect a cold holiday week.

 

Meteorologists define a white Christmas as having at least one inch of snow on the ground Christmas morning, or receiving at least one inch of snow during the course of the 24 hour period.