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Weather will clear up in time for Santa

Avondale Estates Decatur Kirkwood and East Lake Metro ATL

Weather will clear up in time for Santa

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Santa. Source: Decatur Business Association

Santa. Source: Decatur Business Association

There are numerous logistical hurdles facing Santa Claus each year as he makes his magical trek around the globe, shimmying down chimneys and leaving presents for the nice kids on his list.

The reindeer have to be stabled and fed 364 days a year so they can be ready for the big day. The elves are unionized and all seem to come down with something right around the same time, and the sick leave slows down production.

Cramming all of that stuff into a sleigh requires weeks of prep time and numerous forklifts.

Then, of course, he has to deliver presents to half a billion kids – give or take a naughty one or two million. The Atlantic estimated St. Nick has to visit 22 million kids every hour.

And what about homes where one kid has been nice and the others naughty? Santa reportedly carries with him a laptop that has an Excel file with all the relevant details, but still.

Then there’s the weather. Like the postman, neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor tornado, nor El Nino, nor solar flares will keep St. Nick from making his appointed rounds. Fortunately, Santa will get a bit of a reprieve when he visits Georgia this year.

The rainy weather, which includes a flood watch until 8 pm Dec. 24, will clear up tonight, according to the National Weather Service.

“It will clear up for Santa,” forecaster Carly Kovacik said. “You’ve just got to get through this morning into the afternoon.”

So what will the weather picture be like for the benevolent harbinger of Christmas cheer?

“We have a line of storms pushing across the southeast, but as the afternoon goes on into the evening that should clear out,” Kovacik said. “Tonight and tomorrow are going to be really nice. Tonight will be clear.”

During an appearance in downtown Decatur earlier this month, Santa asked the children to go to bed early and be sure to leave out some snacky treats, preferably milk and cookies.

“Ho, ho, ho, ho,” he said. “I love milk and cookies.”

No need to leave an umbrella. At least, not this year.

Interesting side note: North American Aerospace Defense Command has been tracking Santa’s movements for more than 50 years and will do so again this evening. To follow along, click here.

“Twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year, NORAD tracks airplanes, missiles, space launches and anything else that flies in or around the North American continent, while also completing some other very important missions,” NORAD explains on its website. “While the tradition of tracking Santa began purely by accident, NORAD continues to track Santa. We’re the only organization that has the technology, the qualifications, and the people to do it. And, we love it! NORAD is honored to be Santa’s official tracker!”

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