A White Christmas in upstate New York is looking more and more likely. With several inches of snow already on the ground, it isn't a certainty, but is certainly likely, said Meteorologist Bob Hamilton of the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

It's been a long time since New York City has had a white Christmas. Like most Americans dreaming of a white Christmas, there's no chance of one in the city this year. The National Weather Service says Central Park has not had snow on the ground on ...

It need not snow Dec. 25 to fit the Weather Service's definition of a white Christmas: There just needs to be at least one inch of snow on the ground. A trace amount of snow also does not count. On average, about 38% of the Lower 48 has an inch of snow on the ground on Christmas Day, according to 21 years of data compiled by NOAA.

Ohio weather is notoriously unpredictable. That's to the dismay Cincinnatians who dream of a white Christmas every year.

Keep dreaming of a white Christmas in Philadelphia, the Delaware Valley, and Lehigh Valley because it's not happening this year. It's actually rare to get or have snow on the ground on Christmas. There's only a 16 percent chance in any year.