It's unlikely the metro-east will see snow for Christmas this year, according to the Illinois state climatologist.

While northern Illinois has a much better chance for a white Christmas -- 40 percent to 60 percent -- the snow forecast for Southern Illinois is zero to 20 percent.

"This year we are off to a slow start to the winter snow season in Illinois, thanks to December being much warmer and drier than normal," said state Climatologist Jim Angel at the Illinois State Water Survey. "The statewide average temperature is almost 10 degrees above normal with very few places reporting any snow. However, this is Illinois and things can change in a hurry, so, I would not rule out a white Christmas just yet."

The most snow on the ground on Christmas Day was recorded in 1951 in Aurora where 31 inches of snow had piled up after 12 days of nearly nonstop snow and temperatures below freezing.

In the rest of the U.S., the chance for a white Christmas is higher. The chance for snow is more than 80 percent in the Rocky Mountains, the upper Midwest and the northeast. As usual, the southern half of the nation and the West Coast are very unlikely to see snow for Christmas, according to Angel.