Sisters Country enjoys a white Christmas

The snow shower started before dawn on Christmas morning, making the tree tops glisten.

Sisters folks awoke to a winter wonderland with big flakes of snow coming down.

The snow continued to fall heavy at times.

The official definition of a white Christmas is to have one inch of snow on the ground on December 25, whether it is snowing or not, according to meteorologist Jeff Haby.

The fact that Sisters had a total of nine inches of snow on the ground (according to the NWS) and was still snowing made this white Christmas extra-special.

"It felt comfortable to be snowed in, sitting by the warmth of the fire," said Helen Schmidling, manager of Sisters Gallery and Frame Shop.

Heavy snowfall and wind hit Sisters the week before, with blizzard warnings from the National Weather Service in Pendleton.

Snow can be a magical sight to behold, especially on December 25. But snow is more than a scenic delight, it is essential to this area for many reasons.

Snow is important to the area's winter sports, which attract tourists. Hoodoo Mountain Resort totaled 83 inches by Christmas day - the first time they've had an 80-inch base before January in the past four years.

Snow is also critical for the health of the forests. It is the lifeline of many businesses and the water supply for thousands as it feeds streams and recharges aquifers.

Snow is the elixir that makes living in Central Oregon possible. Of all the things the weather could have done, it cooperated with the wishes of the child in each of us on Christmas day.