Despite meteorological winter starting on December 1st, our true “snow season” here in Connecticut is normally January, February and March. In many recent years, it seems there has been a flood of warmer weather right around the holidays. To close out 2023, which has been by all standards an abysmal year for cold and snow, it appears as though the pattern may be changing. Some long range guidance is hinting at a cooler and stormier pattern from the end of December through early January. Shown here are the Euro Weeklies, or the long range version of the European model suite. These, along with similar solutions from other long range models, depict a pattern that could be favorable for East Coast Snowstorms by the final week of December. Generally, lower heights (blue) and below average temperatures (also blue) are favorable ingredients for snowstorms in our region.

As a general disclaimer, even a “more favorable” period for snow doesn’t necessarily mean we will see a big storm. But if you are wondering if we will be in for a White Christmas (perhaps our most asked question at the CT Weather Center) the odds seem decent this year.