Dreaming of a White Christmas by Ansgar Wolsing

This visualization explores the changing patterns of snow depth in Germany during Christmas from 1961 to 2023. It compiles data from 268 weather stations, showing the maximum recorded snow depth from December 24th to 26th each year.

Each year is represented as a map of Germany, where snow depth is encoded using a gradient of circles, ranging from light snowfall to significant snow cover. The sequential arrangement of these maps allows viewers to observe long-term trends, particularly the decreasing frequency of widespread snow coverage in recent decades.

The design emphasizes clarity and pattern recognition. A small multiples approach enables year-over-year comparisons. The title references the cultural sentiment around Christmases.

This work serves as both a historical record and a conversation starter about the future of winter traditions in a warming climate.