"Snowy Dreams Dashed: Strong El Niño Threatens White Christmas Hopes"

Meteorologists are predicting that a "green Christmas" will be more likely than a white one for most of the United States this year. Warmer temperatures and drier conditions across the northern tier may limit snowfall on Christmas morning. The best chances for a white Christmas are in the higher elevations of the West and near the Canadian border from North Dakota to Maine. Only 18% of the contiguous U.S. is currently snow-covered, the lowest percentage since 2006. Historically, states such as Minnesota, Maine, upstate New York, and the Allegheny Mountains have the best chance of a white Christmas. However, this year, even cities like Minneapolis, Green Bay, Buffalo, and Burlington may be snowless.