Fargo, ND – North Dakota is heading into the December 13–26 holiday stretch with one of the strongest white Christmas outlooks in the nation, as new NOAA long-range forecasts highlight a colder and wetter pattern across the Northern Plains — a setup that strongly favors multiple snow events.
According to NOAA, North Dakota sits well inside a broad “Above Normal” precipitation zone stretching across the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. This active pattern typically brings frequent storm systems capable of producing widespread snowfall, particularly when paired with incoming Arctic air.
That colder air is a near certainty. Much of North Dakota — including Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, and Williston — is placed firmly within a “Below Normal” temperature corridor for the second half of December. This colder-than-average pattern supports both sustained snowpack and fresh snowfall leading up to Christmas.
According to NOAA meteorologists, when cold air and increased moisture overlap across the Plains, the odds of a white Christmas rise sharply. Many regions across North Dakota already boast some of the highest climatological probabilities in the country — often above 85–95% — and this year’s setup appears even more favorable.
Forecasters highlight the December 18–24 period as especially active. Multiple storm systems may track across the Canadian Prairies and northern Plains, delivering accumulating snow and reduced visibility along I-29, I-94, US-2, and surrounding routes. Arctic fronts behind these systems may also produce additional light snow and blowing snow.
Even outside of major storms, cold temperatures will help preserve any snow that accumulates earlier in the month, virtually ensuring snow cover heading into Christmas.
Residents should monitor updated forecasts in mid-December as confidence grows regarding storm timing and potential travel impacts.
