It's Christmas Eve, and Santa Claus is suiting up For its annual journey from the North Pole to homes around the world. In keeping with decades of tradition, the North American Aerospace Command, or NORAD, will once again do Track Santa's journey To deliver gifts to children before Christmas 2024, using an official map that is constantly updated to show where it is now.
NORAD, the agency responsible for monitoring and protecting the airspaces of the United States and Canada, has tracked Santa's whereabouts every year since 1958. Its predecessor, Continental Air Defense Command, handled the project for three years before NORAD took over.
Here's what's in store when the tracker maps Santa's journey this Christmas.
Where is Santa now?
Monitor Santa's progress On the live map on NORAD's websiteOr follow the agency's updates Facebook, x, Instagram And youtube Pages.
When will Santa come to your house?
Although the NORAD tracker shows where Santa is at various points on his route around the world, so you can see how far away Santa is from you, the map can't predict when he'll reach any given house. NORAD says its intelligence allows the tracker to follow St. Nick during his Christmas travels, but cannot predict his itinerary or where he will travel to next after stopping in one place.
NORAD writes on its website, “Only Santa knows his route, which means we can't predict when or where he will arrive at your home.” “However, we know from history that he appears to only come when children are sleeping!”
According to NORAD experts, Santa usually visits individual homes between 9 pm and midnight on Christmas Eve.
How does Santa Tracker work?
The tracker relies on radar technology and satellites to keep track of Santa, according to NORAD, which notes that these methods are the same ones the agency uses to protect the skies over North America. Its radar system, called the North American Warning System, consists of 47 different posts in northern Canada and Alaska.
Its website states, “NORAD takes care to closely check radar every holiday season for signs of Santa Claus leaving the North Pole.” “The moment our radar tells us that Santa has flown, we begin using the same satellites that we use to provide aerial warning of potential missile launches aimed at North America.”
Families can also receive updates via phone from the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center – just call 1-877-HIGH NORAD (1-877-446-6723) to speak with a NORAD operator who can tell you Santa's exact location. Lines are open between 6 a.m. and midnight Eastern Time on December 24.
More than 1,250 uniformed personnel from across the United States and Canada volunteer to answer phone calls and emails that NORAD receives when its Santa Tracker goes live on Christmas Eve. US Defense Department civilians also help – and in some years, President and First Lady to pass Joined in to answer some calls,
What else is there to know about Santa Tracker?
NORAD says Santa Claus typically begins his Christmas journey at the International Date Line, located in the Pacific Ocean, and proceeds to travel westward around the world. This means that, historically, they start visiting areas of the South Pacific, before moving on to New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, Central America and South America, in that order.
“Keep in mind, Santa's route may be affected by weather, so it is really unpredictable,” NORAD says, adding that it “coordinates with Santa's Elf launch staff to confirm his launch time.” , but from that point on, Santa calls the shots.”