The days might be getting shorter, but that means only one thing - Christmas is fast approaching! With hundreds of Christmas markets throughout Europe getting ready to open, the anticipation is truly palpable.
Moved by the Christmas spirit, the experts at HAYPP snowploughed through two decades of December weather data to reveal the European capital cities most likely to enjoy a White Christmas in 2024.
10 European cities with the highest chances of a White Christmas
Rank
City
Country
Number of Snow Days in December*
Snow Depth Average in December (cm)
Percentage of Christmas Snow Days**
White Christmas Score (/10)
1
Riga
Latvia
332
7.1
59%
9.2
2
Helsinki
Finland
271
12.3
50%
9
3
Vilnius
Lithuania
362
6.4
64%
8.9
4
Tallinn
Estonia
345
8.5
55%
8.8
5=
Sofia
Bulgaria
251
7.8
41%
8.2
Oslo
Norway
346
6.9
7
Reykjavík
Iceland
342
7.9
8.1
8
Stockholm
Sweden
192
13.5
32%
Chişinău
Moldova
196
7.6
7.7
10
Bucharest
Romania
153
27%
7.4
*data in the table is for the year period 2000-2021
**total percentage of days when there was snow on the ground on 25th December (Christmas Day)
Please find the complete dataset of all European capital cities analysed in this folder.
People in Riga, Latvia are most likely to enjoy a snowy Christmas this year, with the European capital’s White Christmas score being a whopping 9.2/10. With 59% of Christmas snow days in the past 22 years, the city has the second highest number of snowy Christmas days out of all analysed. Furthermore, 332 snowy December days were recorded between 2000 and 2021, making the possibility of a white Christmas highly likely.
The second capital city most likely to be blanketed in snow is Helsinki, Finland, which secured a White Christmas score of 9/10. 50% of Christmas days in the capital over the past two decades have been snowy, making for some magical Christmas mornings. Helsinki’s recorded snow depth throughout December stands at 12.3 cm (the second highest out of all cities, right after Stockholm), ideal for sleigh riding.
Following closely behind, with a White Christmas score of 8.9/10, is Vilnius, Lithuania. Lithuania’s capital has seen the highest amount of snowy Christmas days throughout the past 22 years (64%) out of all capitals. Moreover, the city also had the second highest recorded number of snowy December days (362), coming right after Andorra la Vella. Tallinn, Estonia (Copyright_ Lobachad_Shutterstock)
A White Christmas score of 8.8/10 lands Tallinn, Estonia in fourth place. December months in Tallinn have been mostly covered in snow for the past two decades, as the 345 recorded days of snow show. During that time period 55% of Christmas days have had snow, creating the perfect festive atmosphere and promising high chances of future white Christmas days.
And rounding off the top five, with a White Christmas score of 8.2/10, are two European capital cities - Sofia, Bulgaria and Oslo, Norway. Norway’s capital has the third highest recorded number of December snow days (346) over the past 22 years out of all European capitals, while Bulgaria’s capital has recorded 95 less. What’s more, throughout that same period, 55% of Christmas days in Oslo have been snowy and 41% of Christmas days in Sofia have had snow, making both destinations a top contender to enjoy a white Christmas this year.
Top image: Sofia, Bulgaria (Copyright_ Wirestock Creators_Shutterstock)
