New York City experienced its first white Christmas since 2009, marking the first time in 15 years. At 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Central Park recorded a snow depth of one inch, according to the National Weather Service. This is a relatively rare occurrence, with only a 13% chance of a white Christmas in New York City in any given year. The last white Christmas, in 2009, saw two inches of snow accumulation. While there was light snowfall in 2017 and 2003, no accumulation occurred. In 2002, a record five inches fell before melting into rain.
Boston also enjoyed a white Christmas this year, with four inches of snow on the ground. The snow is expected to melt slowly due to colder-than-normal temperatures on Christmas Day and Thursday. Milder weather is forecast for the weekend, with temperatures reaching the 40s in New York and the 50s in Chicago. (ABC News contributed to this report.)