Were You Dreaming of a White Christmas?

White Christmases in Birmingham are incredibly rare due to the region’s warmer climate. The official definition of a White Christmas—having at least one inch of snow on the ground on Christmas morning—has never been met in Birmingham’s recorded history.

In December 2010, much of Central Alabama experienced its first White Christmas in memory as a pair of upper-level disturbances combined to bring snow to the state. Sadly, the Birmingham Airport only recorded a trace of snow, leaving it out of the official record. Other parts of North and Central Alabama were luckier, with Skyline in Jackson County reporting a significant 5.5 inches of snow. While it wasn’t enough to qualify as a White Christmas for Birmingham, it remains a cherished memory for many who experienced the snowfall.

Birmingham has come close to achieving a true White Christmas a couple of other times in the past. In 1985, snow flurries fell on both Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, leaving a dusting in some areas. However, this also didn’t meet the official criteria. Historical records show that snow has fallen on either December 24th or 25th at the Birmingham Airport on eight occasions, with the most recent trace snowfall recorded in 1995.

One notable snowfall event occurred in December 1929, when the Weather Bureau office in Fountain Heights recorded 5.5 inches of snow on December 22nd. By Christmas Eve, 2.5 inches of snow remained on the ground. However, most of it melted by Christmas Day as temperatures rose to 51°F.

For Birmingham residents, the dream of a true White Christmas remains elusive but not forgotten, especially with the memories of 2010 and other near-misses providing hope for the future.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Met 101/Weather History