Earlier this week, initial models showed Denver may see several inches of snow on Saturday as well as subzero temperatures, possibly setting us up for a White Christmas.
As the models continue to change, this weekend now looks much more mild, with hardly any snow for metro Denver on Saturday.
According to the National Weather Service, Denver typically doesn't get a White Christmas.
Based on NWS data, Denver has a 38 percent chance of having one inch of snow (or more) on the ground on Christmas.
FORECAST | Your Weather Forecast
For the Christmas weekend, we'll have a windy Saturday, then mild and dry for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Much of the snow on Saturday will track north, dusting northern Colorado and the foothills.
Friday, however, single-digit temperatures linger overnight for many areas of Colorado.
FRIDAY: Clearing skies and a very cold morning. Partly cloudy, seasonal afternoon. Morning lows from 6° to 11°, afternoon highs from 34° to 39°.
SATURDAY: Windy in the foothills, partly cloudy with a few flurries possible. Morning lows from 12° to 17°, afternoon highs from 33° to 38°.
CHRISTMAS EVE: Mostly sunny with nearly average temperatures. Morning lows from 11° to 16°, afternoon highs from 38° to 42°.
CHRISTMAS DAY: Partly cloudy, dry and calm. Morning lows from 18° to 23°, afternoon highs from 41° to 45°.
Meteorologist Danielle Grant answers your Saturday storm/travel questions live on Facebook:
So, what are the odds of a White Christmas in Denver, statistically speaking?
There have been 44 Christmases with at least an inch of show on the ground in the 117 years since snow depth measurements began in 1900, so the odds are about 40 percent of at least having some snow present for the holiday.
On the other hand, if a white Christmas means having measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more) on Christmas Day, then the odds drop to about 15 percent (just 20 days in 135 years since snowfall measurement began in 1882).
In the past 30 years, the NWS reports Denver has received measurable snowfall on six Christmas Days, or 20 percent.
Meanwhile, if we look at Christmas Days with one inch or more of snow on the ground, then 15 of the last 30 years have been a white Christmas, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.
The most snow ever recorded on the ground in Denver on Christmas Day was 24 inches which was measured after the Christmas Eve blizzard of 1982.
The heaviest snowfall on Christmas Day was in 2007, when Denver got 7.8 inches.
Other significant Christmas snowfalls in recent memory include 2014 and 2015.
5 Greatest Snowfalls on Christmas since 1882
2007: 7.8"
1894: 6.4"
2014: 3.4"
2015: 2.3"
1912: 1.7"
On Christmas last year, winds of 80 to 100 mph occurred in the foothills with gusts from 60 to 80 miles per hour across the western suburbs of the Denver metro area.
Want more fun Christmas weather facts? Check out the NWS site.
