Sudbury's white Christmas likely just a dream

This Christmas is going to be green one, according to Weather Network Meteorologist Gina Ressler.

“Historically, you guys usually do see a white Christmas nine times out of 10,” she said. “This year, it's going to be really close.”

In the past, the average December temperature in Greater Sudbury is around the -5 mark. This year, it's closer to zero.

“It's been mild, and that obviously has been contributing to the lack of snowfall,” she said.

Much more of the same is expected over the holidays, Ressler said. Light flurries and mild temperatures are in the forecast.

“The next system is going to start to move in by Saturday night, and continue through Sunday morning for Christmas day,” she said. “This is going to bring some light flurries — it could see accumulation of about one to three centimetres, so it's really going to be marginal.”

She said Sudburians shouldn't except to see snow stick around until the new year.

“It's likely we'll start to see these more aggressive systems start to develop when we hit the new year.”

The rest of the province is in similar state, likely because of “La Niña,” she said.

“La Niña basically refers to cooler than normal sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean,” Ressler explained. “That could have an effect on the position of our jet stream here in North America. That's been one of the factors.”

Posted by Heather Green-Oliver