DES MOINES, Iowa - The Climate Prediction Center 14 day outlook puts all of Iowa and the Eastern half of Nebraska in line for above average temperatures for Christmas. Although there is also a better than normal chance for precipitation in the same 14 day outlook, whether that ends up falling as rain or snow depends on where temperatures actually end up.
Historically, the region from Omaha through Des Moines/Ames and Cedar Rapids/Iowa City to Davenport and the Quad Cities is not even 50/50 for white Christmases.
The National Weather Service gives the probability of at least 1" of snow on Christmas, from West to East, based on past Christmases:
Omaha/Council Bluffs: 36% of the time
Des Moines: 43%
Ames: 48%
Cedar Rapids: 36%
Iowa City: 44%
Quad Cities: 37%
You have to head north to the top two to three tiers of Iowa counties, to get a better than 50/50 chance of a White Christmas. Fort Dodge has a 59% probability of a white Christmas, Mason City 63%, Waterloo 58%, and Dubuque 63%.
CLICK HERE or on the above photo of the map for more information and the live interactive white Christmas map from the National Weather Service.
National Weather Service 14 day weather outlook maps for temperatures and precipitation below.