Will the SouthCoast Have a White Christmas This Year?

There's something so magical about a soft snow falling on Christmas Day. It's like you're inside a giant snow globe. It's a perfect addition to the holiday, if you ask me.

However, maybe you shouldn't ask me, since I'm no expert. So we found one: our friend, 12 News Meteorologist T.J. Del Santo.

"White Christmas technically is defined as one inch of snow on the ground at 7 a.m. on Christmas morning. So that's what we kind of keep track of," he said.

The Rhode Island native said he would welcome the idea of a few falling flakes. "Just a little bit of snow falling on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day certainly would be nice," Del Santo said.

Will We See Snow On Christmas?

We already got some snow last weekend, and that provided many on the SouthCoast with some winter fun.

READ MORE: The Giant Dartmouth Snowman Everyone Is Talking About

"Unfortunately, that's probably going to get washed away by Friday morning as we've got a pretty good storm coming in," Del Santo added.

So will we see any after the storm rolls through? Perhaps as Jolly Old Saint Nick is in flight?

"We might get some light snow as we head into next Tuesday," Del Santo said, causing Gazelle and I to get our hopes up a bit too soon. "I don't think it's enough to really stick around. I don't really see a whole bunch of chances of a white Christmas this year, unfortunately."

The Winter Ahead

While chatting with Del Santo, we also asked him about the winter ahead and what to expect over the next couple of months.

"I think it's going to be colder than normal for a little while, and I think the second half of the winter will probably start to warm up again, but I expect a couple of good-sized storms," he said. "By that, I mean you might get five-to-eight-inch snowfall amounts, but it's probably not going to get a ton of snow this year. It's likely going to be overall a warmer than normal winter."

READ MORE: Dartmouth Dad and Son Build Backyard Snow Machine For Sledding

Memorable Storms

Del Santo and the team at WPRI 12 have covered many storms over the years, but a few stand out in his mind.

"Obviously, the Blizzard of '78," he said. Though he wasn't reporting on it, he remembers that monumental snowfall well. It was a storm that packed a punch, bringing over two feet of snow to the area, as well as whiteout conditions and closed highways in February of 1978.

READ MORE: New Bedford Remembers the Blizzard of 1978

Being the guy who reports on snowfall and storms is no easy gig. Meteorologists never get snow days, but one can dream. "I would just sit and watch the coverage on TV and maybe go out and go sledding myself," Del Santo said.

So even though it may not be white, we're wishing you a very merry Christmas from all of us here at Fun 107. Happy holidays!

READ MORE: SouthCoast Dogs Live Their Best Lives in the Snow