With no shot at a white Christmas, Indianapolis could get warmest Christmas in 37 years

Justin L. Mack | Indianapolis Star

Show Caption Hide Caption Indianapolis weather: Today's forecast Here's what the weather looks like for the Indianapolis area on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019.

If you're one of those people who feels like Christmas just isn't Christmas without a few inches of freshly fallen snow sparkling in the morning light, then this probably isn't the news update you're looking for.

But for those of us who love Christmas mornings devoid of any shoveling, scraping or slipping, then consider this week's potentially historic forecast an early stocking stuffer.

Christmas Day is forecasted to be partly sunny with a high around 58 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The mild conditions should continue after sunset with a nighttime low of around 47 degrees, the highest forecasted low temperature of the week.

If that forecast comes to fruition, NWS officials say it'll make Wednesday the warmest Christmas the city has experienced in 37 years. Christmas 1982, the second warmest on record, reached a high temperature of 63 degrees.

Wednesday will likely be the warmest Christmas #Indy has seen in 37 years! Highs are currently forecast to be in the upper 50s. #inwx pic.twitter.com/HNoiRUufl4 — NWS Indianapolis (@NWSIndianapolis) December 24, 2019

A high temperature of 58 degrees would move Christmas 2019 into a four-way tie with 1973, 1932 and 1891 as having the fourth highest recorded temperature in history.

The record still belongs to 1893 which got all the way up to a balmy 64 degrees.

Dry and warm for the holiday week. #INwx pic.twitter.com/SHabvZE8ce — NWS Indianapolis (@NWSIndianapolis) December 23, 2019

The NWS said Indianapolis will enjoy a warm, dry week with no sign of precipitation until the weekend. Christmas Eve is expected to be mostly sunny with a high around 53 degrees and calm winds. The evening before Christmas should see temperatures settle in the mid 30s as clouds roll in.

Thursday carries the second highest forecasted daytime high with temperatures around 57 degrees. It should drop into the low 40s Thursday night.

Friday sees a slight cool down with a high of 52 degrees and a low of 36 degrees.

Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at 317-444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.