In December 1776, the Revolutionary War was not going well for the Americans. The war had grown from a local rebellion in the eyes of the British to a full blown war. The Redcoats evacuated Boston on march 17, 1776. It was a strategic move on their part, not a defeat. They would return in the summer of 1776 to besiege New York with the greatest naval armada ever assembled to that time. The British pushed the Americans out of New York City and Long Island. The ragtag Americans were in retreat. Washington had moved his troops across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania.

War was a seasonal activity in those days. The British settled into winter quarters. There was an outpost of German mercenaries at Trenton, New Jersey. The Brits actually thought they had the war won when they captured General Charles Lee on December 13th. With the British in hibernation, Washington saw his chance. If the mission failed, America would never have happened.

General Washington planned three simultaneous crossings of the icy Delaware River during the early morning hours of December 26, 1776. Washington crossed the icy river in the of an increasing storm that was hurling a mixed bag of wintry precipitation at the Continentals, including sleet, snow and an icy rain. Temperatures were around 32 degrees. The disciplined Hessians withdrew their pickets and suspended their patrols as the storm raged. They were also sleeping off their Christmas celebration. All of this added to the element of surprise for the Americans.

By 4 a.m., all of the troops and guns were across the river. The 2,400 soldiers began a march in the worst of conditions. Sleet hailed down on them. Their muskets were made useless by the moisture. But Washington bravely led his men onward. At the winter storm swirled, Washington surrounded the town and attacked at 8 a.m. The battle was a decisive one for Washington and the Americans, who only suffered four casualties. The Hessian losses were horrendous. 106 Germans were killed or wounded and another 868 taken prisoner. Washington knew better than to press his case then and slipped back across the ice choked river, living to fight another day.

One to three inches of snow was expected to accumulate tonight in the Great Smoky Mountains mainly above 2,000 feet elevation.

Most of the area is above 2,000 feet including the areas around Gatlinburg. Cades Cove is 1,900 feet and the National Park Headquarters (Sugarland Center) is 1,600 feet.

Another one to three inches is forecast for Monday so the storm total could be up to 6 inches.

HERE IN ALABAMA
As of 9 o'clock on this Christmas night, most of the precipitation has ending. Mostly some scattered light drizzle over the north. 9 PM temperatures were 40 or higher most areas...although a few upper 30s in the extreme north.

Our cloudy, dreary Christmas Day weather has materialized. Temperatures are in the 30s across the area with thick, low clouds and a cool westerly breeze. A little very light rain is across the area, with more concentrated showers over East Central Alabama. Temperatures should remain basically steady for the remainder of the afternoon.

No major changes in the afternoon forecast package except for a little fog tonight and the possibility of severe weather Wednesday. I will have that forecast package out and posted around 2:30 p.m.

Clearing should occur overnight. Be alert to the possibility of dense fog once skies clear in your area. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny and on the coolish side after the fog lifts. Tuesday will feature partly cloudy skies and a nice warmup with highs in the 60s across the area. In fact, middle to upper 60s will be possible.

We will be monitoring a low pressure system that will be moving across southern Missouri Wednesday. It will spread showers and storms in to Alabama Wednesday afternoon. There is a chance that these storms will be on the strong to severe side.

Clouds and a little light rain will inger for most of Thursday before partly cloudy skies return on Friday. The Gulf will be open for business again on Friday with a nice southerly wind. The morning run of the GFS is much stronger with the weekend system that will deliver showers and storms to us again on Saturday. This system will be interesting to watch also.

New Years Eve will be very wet and stormy if this solution verifies. Sunday should feature cloudy skies with light rain moving out early on New Years Day.

I hope that you and your family are having a memorable and meaningful Christmas Day.

The Christmas day map discussion video is on the server at:

http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb

No one would like to see a white Christmas more than I would, but I'm afraid that is not going to pan out for us in Alabama this year. We'll have to put those snow hopes on the shelf once again. And while a white Christmas may not happen, the overall pattern still holds some hope for a bit of snow as we head into 2006.

Temperatures are likely to remain in the 40s today with little change and little if any sun as clouds remain across the area. Showers were moving across north Alabama this morning, and a sizeable patch of rain was evident on the Memphis radar. However, morning soundings even at Nashville, TN, showed the lowest 5000 to 6000 feet of the atmosphere to be above zero eliminating nearly all snow possibilities.

Monday should start cold but we should see temperatures climb into the 50s. Tuesday will be an even nicer day with lower 60s a good possibility.

Mid-week brings an interesting weather system and the possibility of severe weather. An uper level closed low will be approaching the area on Wednesday with some positive severe weather indicators including a good low level jet, warm, moist surface conditions, and good difluence aloft. This is definitely something we'll be keeping an eye on as we get into the coming week.

There will be another couple of days of tranquil weather after that system passes before another front approaches on Saturday. Moisture could be limited with that front plus the main westerlies are projected to be a bit further north resulting in cooler but not colder conditions.

I sincerely hope that you have a Merry Christmas and are able to experience the joy that the birth of Jesus Christ brings for each of us.

-Brian-