Dreaming of a white Christmas in NYC? Snow is expected on Tuesday.

New Yorkers dream of a white Christmas could According to meteorologists, those dreams will come true this year if the Christmas Eve forecast holds up.

According to Bryan Ramsey of the National Weather Service, the snowy weather is expected to leave an accumulation of about half an inch during rush hour Tuesday morning. With some places – like Central Park – still covered in some snow from winter weather over the weekend, the total could be enough to last through Christmas Day.

“There’s an inch of snow on the ground in New York City right now,” Ramsey said Tuesday morning, Christmas Eve. “If that were the case on Christmas morning, then it would be a white Christmas.”

Less than an inch of snow wouldn’t qualify for the title, Ramsey said. Historically, the chance of a white Christmas is about one in six.

“The two issues we’re going to have are the fact that temperatures are going to get above freezing today and we’re going to see sunshine, which will help melt some of the snow,” Ramsey said.

Temperatures are expected to rise to over 30°C on Tuesday and Wednesday, which combined with sunshine could cause the thin layer of snow to disappear.

Or, Ramsey says, there might be a little dust left — not enough for a white Christmas, by definition, but enough to make the day still feel festive.

“We will move back to low temperatures this evening. So there’s certainly a chance we could see some snow on Christmas morning,” he said.

The city’s Sanitation Department issued a winter operational alert for Tuesday morning, urging residents not to drive and to be on the lookout for the 700 salt spreaders that will be activated as winter weather intensifies. The department has 700 million pounds of salt, marking a “historically high winter headcount.”

On Tuesday, parking on alternate sides will be prohibited due to the spread of salt and to help New Yorkers stay off the streets if possible.

“Remember that no one will be driving your sleigh on Christmas Eve but you,” the department warned in a statement. “Be safe on the streets so that New York’s strongest can get home safely.”