The last time that New York City had a white Christmas was back in 2009. Based on current forecasts, a white Christmas this year may not be in our future.

I should point out what a white Christmas means. I'm not talking about just flurries falling on Christmas morning. The expectation is also not a foot of snow on the ground to classify it as a white Christmas.

There is an official definition of a white Christmas. At least an inch of snow has to be on the ground by 7 a.m. on Christmas morning.

So, even if snow is falling on Christmas morning, it may not be a white Christmas. And in some instances, it might not be snowing at all, but with snow already on the ground, it'll earn the title of a white Christmas.

It has been quite a while since we've had a white Christmas.

The historical data from Central Park on Christmas Day shows that we met the criteria on Christmas morning just three times in the last 50 years. If you do the math, that's about 6% of the time.

All three of those times in the last 50 years happened since 1998. In other words, there were no years with a white Christmas from 1970-1998.

The chances are not great in any year, but what about this year?

This year, the chances of a white Christmas may be about as close to zero percent as they can be. Funny enough, the weather pattern in the days leading up to Christmas could support a few opportunities for snow.

A dip in the jet stream, otherwise known as a trough, could bring enough cold and moisture for some December snow.

However, the pattern shifts days before Christmas, and a ridge builds in the jet stream over the eastern United States. This results in a forecast for warmer-than-normal temperatures.

So, even if snow did fall in the days leading up to Christmas, it would likely melt before Christmas morning. Without an inch of snow on the ground at 7 a.m. on Christmas morning, it won't be a white Christmas.

Maybe we'll have a chance next year?