Editing White Christmas (weather) (section)

== Definition ==
The criteria for a "white Christmas" varies. In most countries, it simply means that the ground is covered by snow at Christmas, but some countries have more strict definitions. In the United States, the official definition of a white Christmas is that there has to be a snow depth of at least {{convert|1|in|cm|disp=or|abbr=on}} on the ground on 25 December in the contiguous United States,<ref name="ncei">{{Cite web |date=2021-07-26 |title=Are You Dreaming of a White Christmas? {{!}} National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) formerly known as National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/news/historical-probability-of-white-christmas |access-date=2024-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726061015/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/news/historical-probability-of-white-christmas |archive-date=26 July 2021 }}</ref> and in Canada the official definition is that there has to be more than {{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}} on the ground on Christmas Day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-05-30 |title=Chances vary for a white Christmas - Canada - CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/chances-vary-for-a-white-christmas-1.911251 |access-date=2024-04-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530160015/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2010/12/24/science-white-christmas.html |archive-date=30 May 2013 }}</ref> In the United Kingdom, although for many a white Christmas simply means a complete covering of snow on Christmas Day, the official definition by the British [[Met Office]] and British [[bookmaker]]s is for snow to be observed falling, however little (even if it melts before it reaches the ground), in the 24 hours of 25 December.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/types-of-weather/snow/white-christmas |title=Will it be a white Christmas? |publisher=Met Office |date=5 April 2012 |access-date=2021-12-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.williamhillmedia.com/index_template.asp?file=5011 |title=William Hill press release: "£1 Million Riding on a Flake of Snow!" |access-date=2010-12-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013093833/http://williamhillmedia.com/index_template.asp?file=5011 |archive-date=13 October 2007 }}</ref> Consequently, according to the Met Office and British bookmakers, even {{convert|3|ft|cm|abbr=on|order=flip}} of snow on the ground at Christmas, because of a heavy snow fall a few days before, will not constitute a white Christmas, but a few snowflakes mixed with rain will, even if they never reach the ground. In the United Kingdom the most likely place to see snowfall on a Christmas Day is in North and North Eastern Scotland, in [[Aberdeen]], [[Aberdeenshire]] or the [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://booty.org.uk/booty.weather/metinfo/snowxmas.htm |title=Meteorology West Moors: Snow at Christmas in the United Kingdom |first=Martin |last=Rowley |date=26 December 2011 |access-date=2010-12-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128224756/http://booty.org.uk/booty.weather/metinfo/snowxmas.htm |archive-date=28 November 2010 }}</ref>

Although the term ''white Christmas'' usually refers to snow, if a significant [[hail]] accumulation occurs in an area on Christmas Day, as happened in parts of [[Melbourne]] on 25 December 2011, this can also be described as a white Christmas, due to the resulting white appearance of the landscape resembling snow cover.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/pictures/gallery-e6frf94x-1226230231439 |title=Galleries: A White Christmas in Melbourne |work=[[Herald Sun]] |access-date=2012-11-11 }}</ref>