Meteorologists are hesitant to make firm predictions about this year’s Christmas weather, though historical data shows the last sub-zero Christmas Day was recorded in 2007. Recent years have seen some of the warmest December 24ths in three decades, with temperatures reaching above 6°C in both 2022 and 2023.
Despite last year’s warm temperatures, some lower-lying areas, particularly in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, did experience a white Christmas. However, a significant thaw from the southwest quickly melted the snow, leaving only higher elevations with snow cover by the following day.
The chances of a white Christmas vary significantly by location. Cities like Liberec, with its higher elevation, has seen snow on Christmas Day 19 times in the past 30 years. Other cities like Jihlava (14 times), Ústí nad Labem (13 times), and Brno and Olomouc (12 times each) follow suit. Prague, however, has only experienced five white Christmases in the same period.
Looking ahead to this year, meteorologists expect unusually warm weather in the first half of next week, followed by a likely cooling period before the final weekend of Advent. While mountain areas might see some snowfall next weekend, the Christmas Day forecast remains uncertain.