News Photo by James Andersen A brightly colored house with lights and inflatables greets travelers on Washington Avenue during a recent winter night in Alpena. Though the area typically has a 50-50 chance of a white Christmas, officials say the chances of a white Christmas this year seem more and more likely.

ALPENA — Winter enthusiasts and those hoping for a white Christmas in less than two weeks may just get their wish, officials say.

Traditionally, the Alpena area has a 50-50 chance of a white Christmas, and the area should have one this year, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Andy Sullivan.

“It’s definitely going to get colder,” Sullivan said. “Some arctic air moving from the Plains should bring some snow with it. There’s potentially a storm system that could advance on the Great Lakes with lake-effect snow. The chances look like they’re getting better for a white Christmas.”

To many, a white Christmas with a fresh blanket of snow on the ground adds a special touch to the holidays, especially for those who love outdoor winter activities.

Alpena resident Mark Jacobs said he appreciates a white Christmas because of tradition, but he said he wouldn’t mind a shorter winter.

“I loved the snow on Christmas when I was younger, because of all the outdoor activities,” Jacobs said. “It wouldn’t break my heart if we had a short winter, though.”

Historical data shows that, while there may be snow underfoot leading up to and after the holiday, Christmas Day — Dec. 25 — hasn’t seen much fresh snow.

Dating back to 1940, the single-day record for snowfall on Dec. 25 at the Alpena County Regional Airport is 0.63 inches, which came in 2009. Many years in that span have seen either trace amounts of snow or none at all.

By comparison, the single-day snowfall totals for Dec. 25 in Traverse City, Gaylord, and Sault Ste. Marie are 0.73, 0.51, and 0.74 inches, respectively.

Data also shows that Alpena traditionally has seen some snowy days following Christmas. Alpena’s record snowfall for Dec. 26 to 30 includes three days with more than an inch of snow, including 2.28 inches in 1946.

Sullivan said Alpena tends to be drier in December, with less lake-effect snow, because winter weather systems are less active. That changes when the new year arrives and weather patterns become more active.

Officials are currently watching a potential winter storm, which may blanket the area on Thursday. The forecast calls for gusty winds and snow, turning to rain and wet snow in the morning with chances of precipitation at 100% and a potential snow accumulation of three to five inches.

A large system — stretching from the Canadian border down to Texas — was moving over the Plains with a mix of snow and rain, moving through Minnesota and Wisconsin as of Tuesday afternoon.

The massive storm spawned tornadoes and left a handful of people injured in parts of Oklahoma and Texas and brought the potential for blizzard-like conditions from the Rocky Mountains to the Midwest.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.