A brown Christmas is still a serious possibility as near-freezing temperatures and other weather conditions are melting existing snow and ice.

Last week's major snowstorm brought in a good amount of snow to the southeast which helped to set the scene ahead of the holiday season.

The snow that has settled may not stick around until the 25th, as Environment Canada Meteorologist Terri Lang explains that conditions are pointing toward a melt.

"The weather station and the webcams show that there's not too much snow on the ground, about four centimeters worth. There is a freeze-thaw cycle going on, so there will be some melting. It's also going to be windy so that also speeds up the melting process, especially when temperatures are freezing."

The current forecast also shows a lack of weather systems that could shore up the snowbanks over the next ten days.

Lang says that's because long-range forecasting can be a hit-or-miss system.

"We don't look out beyond seven to ten days, just because there are so many things that can develop in between and into the longer range it comes along and you think you have one forecast and by the end, you have something completely different. So there's just too much uncertainty into the future to be able to say anything for sure."

Lang says she's ultimately unsure as the possibility does remain that a system forms and reinforces a white Christmas.

She stresses that in the meantime people should still drive safely on roads as that freeze-thaw cycle will create slippery conditions around the southeast.

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