White Christmas in Michigan looks like a long shot

Metro Detroiters may not see a white Christmas this year, and it's not looking good even for those planning a holiday visit up north or in the Upper Peninsula.

AccuWeather defines a white Christmas as at least an inch of snow on the ground on Dec. 25, and its early forecast shows cloudy and dry conditions for most of Michigan in the days approaching Christmas.

The only days Detroit has a chance at snow before Christmas are Monday and Dec. 23, according to AccuWeather.com.

Alex Manion, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said current weather patterns suggest the Detroit Metro area may not get any snow Dec. 25, though the service only provides official forecasts for the next seven days.

The El Niño weather pattern is one driving force for this month's weather, Manion said. Another jet stream to the north of Michigan is driving patterns away from the Midwest and Great Lakes, making the weather milder than usual for the area, he said.

Monday and Tuesday are the only days ahead that will feel like "more normal December weather" for the Detroit Metro area with low temperatures in the mid-20s and some chances of snow on Monday, Manion said.

"The city of Detroit proper is actually less than a 50-50 shot for Christmas," Manion said. "It's actually more normal to not have a white Christmas."

The further north the city, the higher the chances of snow, he said.

AccuWeather is not forecasting snow for Grand Rapids on Christmas. Muskegon Heights and Norton Shores and Traverse City are expected to get a bit of snow, but also a wintry mix of sleet and rain.

In the Upper Peninsula, Marquette and Ishpeming are expected to get a little snow, according to AccuWeather.

Michigan isn't the only state missing out. Models show low chances of Christmas snow in most cities across the northern U.S., the Washington Post reported.

"Our analysis shows the odds of a white Christmas this year are at least cut in half for most major population centers in the northern half of the United States because of an abnormally warm weather pattern poised to invade North America over the next week to two weeks," The Post reported.

With warmer than usual air and little chances of precipitation aside from rain, "human-caused climate change" poses a threat to snow days ahead, The Post said.