Dreaming of a White Christmas? Dream On, St. Louis

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas dream may be more fantasy than fact for metro St. Louis, and locals seem to be just fine with that.

Maryland Heights Patch asked Twitter followers and Facebook fans what they would prefer: A “white” Christmas or a “mild” Christmas.

A mild Christmas won out, but at least one snow lover was enthusiastic:

“White Christmas! #stl #weather,” tweeted @MeganWrites1.

Patch contributor  said via Twitter:

“I don't mind a white Christmas, but no more snow for the rest of winter, please?” he tweeted.

Experts weigh in

Christmas 2010 delivered snow around the St. Louis metro area. But this season’s skies will not disappoint those hoping for milder weather at Christmas.

• Watch: YouTube video of snowfall in St. Louis on Dec. 24, 2010

Jim Kramper, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service St. Louis office, said the Sunday forecast is sunny with a high of 39°F, too warm for snow.

“Tradiitonally it’s not typically snowy,” Kramper said.

Chris Higgins, a meteorologist at Maryland Heights-based , said St. Louisans woke to snow on just 21 Christmas Days in the last 112 years. In that same time period, only four Christmas Days yielded more than an inch of the white stuff. 

That number jumps to 16 if you count all the Christmas days with both an inch accumulation and light flurries, Higgins said.

Snow big deal

The normal weather for a metro St. Louis Christmas is pretty mild. Higgins said the average high is around 44°F, with an average low temperature around 25°F.

And this year, snow in St. Louis is running a little late, Higgins said. Usually residents can expect snow in December, he said. Higgins predicted the next big snow will come in early 2012.

• Watch: YouTube video showing before and after Dec. 12, 2010 snowstorm