Record-breaking Warmth Expected for Midwest Christmas, Rainy Weekend Ahead

Unusually warm weather is expected to blanket the Midwest and other parts of the central United States this Christmas, breaking dozens of records as a result of a warm Pacific weather pattern connected to a strong El Niño event and human-caused climate change. Many areas that typically experience a white Christmas will instead have bare ground and temperatures about 30 degrees above normal. Record highs are expected to be set in several cities, and the warmth is forecasted to spread eastward over the holiday weekend. The lack of snow cover is both contributing to the warm temperatures and serving as an indicator of the overall lack of cold in the region.