ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – With highs in the 60s this week, the chances of a white Christmas in Albuquerque are slim. According to the National Weather Service, there’s only a 5% chance of snowflakes and a 3% chance of any snow on the ground this holiday.
So when was the last time the Duke City saw a true white Christmas? Defined as at least one inch of snow on the ground at 7 a.m. Christmas Day, it’s been rare. In 2011, the foothills saw several inches, but lower elevations missed out. In 2009, the foothills got about an inch, while the Sunport reported only a trace.
Other notable years include 1999, when an inch fell in the northeast foothills, and 1990, when the airport recorded an inch during a frigid Christmas with highs near 28 degrees. Going further back, snow was more common in the early 1900s, including a major storm in 1914 that dropped six inches.
For now, expect a mild holiday in Albuquerque — and keep the sleds stored away.
