The Hottest Christmas Ever Recorded in Minnesota

Minnesota is typically known for cold, snowy winters, but they’ve actually had some warm Christmases. The hottest Christmas ever recorded in Minnesota is shocking to most because it’s well above the average temperature for the area.

The Hottest Christmas in Minnesota

According to the Minnesota DNR, the warmest Christmas recorded in the state was 51 degrees. This record occurred in 1922, leaving Minnesota residents without a white Christmas. The Weather Bureau has a record book that describes the day as “spring-like”.

Minnesota has only experienced 36 Christmases without snow between 1899 and 2022, otherwise called “brown Christmases”. The most recent occurrences were in 2021, 2018, and 2015, where the warm weather resulted in no snow on Christmas morning.

The Chances of Having a White Christmas in Minnesota

Having a white Christmas means having snow on the ground for the holiday festivities. A dusting of snow won’t count as a white Christmas in a log book because official records require one inch of snow on the ground on Christmas morning.

Some parts of the world rarely anticipate a white Christmas, but other places, including Minnesota, have a good chance. Data shows that, historically, Minnesota has a 71% chance of a white Christmas.

Northern Minnesota had a higher chance, with some areas almost certain to have a white Christmas, and the percentage steadily decreasing heading south. An interactive tool can help pinpoint the temperatures and weather conditions in specific locations throughout the state.

Other Christmas Weather Experiences in Minnesota

White and brown aren’t the only way to describe Christmas weather in Minnesota. A few of their Christmases have had thunderstorms, including in 1982 and 2016.