This Christmas Day, millions across the U.S. will experience unseasonably warm conditions, with some areas seeing temperatures more typical of spring or early summer. Forecasts suggest this could rank among the hottest Christmas Days on record for several states.
Key Highlights:
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106 million people may see highs above 70°F.
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Nearly 6 million people could experience temperatures exceeding 80°F.
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States most impacted include Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, and Georgia.
Southern Plains:
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Texas and Oklahoma are expected to reach upper 70s to lower 80s, with some central and southern Texas locations briefly surpassing 80°F.
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Temperature anomalies are 15–25°C above normal at the 850-mb level, indicating a strong and persistent warm air mass.
Midwest:
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Missouri and Illinois could see highs in the low to mid-70s, 25–35 degrees above seasonal norms.
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Minimal snow cover allows solar heating and southerly winds to further boost temperatures, bringing conditions close to record levels.
Southeast:
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Tennessee and Georgia will experience highs in the low to mid-70s, giving the region a spring-like feel.
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While humidity is not extreme, it will add to the unseasonable warmth.
Why This Is Happening:
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A large ridge of high pressure dominates the central and eastern U.S., blocking Arctic air and drawing warm Gulf air northward.
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Cold air remains locked in the northern Rockies and parts of Canada, creating an extreme temperature contrast.
Outlook:
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The warmth is expected to be short-lived, but it highlights the volatility of winter weather.
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A return to more typical seasonal temperatures is possible later, though timing remains uncertain.
This Christmas will be remembered not for snow, but for record-breaking warmth across much of the country.
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