Where is Santa right now? Use the NORAD tracker to map his 2024 Christmas flight
It’s Christmas Eve, and Santa Claus is dressed up He sets out from the North Pole every year to thousands of homes around the world. Building on decades of tradition, North American Aerospace Command (NORAD) will once again Track Santa’s journey Send gifts to your kids before Christmas 2024, using the ever-updating official map showing where he is now.
NORAD, the agency responsible for monitoring and protecting U.S. and Canadian airspace, has tracked Santa’s movements every year since 1958. Its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command, was in charge of the program for three years before NORAD took over.
Here’s what you need to know as trackers map out Santa’s journey this Christmas.
Where is Santa Claus now?
Monitor Santa’s progress On the live map on the NORAD websiteor follow updates from the agency Facebook, X, Instagram and Youtube Page.
When will Santa Claus come to your house?
While the NORAD tracker reflects Santa’s location at various points along his route around the world, so you can see how far away he is, the map cannot predict when he will arrive at any particular home. NORAD said its intelligence allows trackers to follow St. Nick’s Christmas journey, but it cannot predict his journey or where he will go next after stopping at a location.
“Only Santa knows his route, which means we can’t predict when or where he will arrive at your home,” NORAD writes on its website. “However, we know from history that he only seems to come when the children are asleep!”
According to NORAD experts, Santa Claus usually arrives at homes between 9 pm and midnight on Christmas Eve.
How does Santa Tracker work?
NORAD said the tracker relies on radar technology and satellites to monitor Santa, noting that the methods are the same ones the agency uses to protect North America’s skies. Its radar system, known as the North American Warning System, includes 47 different checkpoints across northern Canada and Alaska.
“NORAD carefully checks radar every holiday season for signs of Santa Claus leaving the North Pole,” its website explains. “When our radar tells us Santa Claus is up, we start using the same satellites we use to provide airborne warnings of possible missile launches targeting North America.”
Families can also get the latest information by phone from the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center – just call 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) Talk to a NORAD operator who can tell you Santa’s exact location. Lines will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight Eastern Time on December 24.
More than 1,250 uniformed personnel from the United States and Canada volunteered on Christmas Eve to answer the calls and emails NORAD receives when its Santa Tracker goes live. Civilians from the U.S. Department of Defense also helped—in some years, president and first lady have Join in and take some calls.
What else should you know about Santa Tracker?
NORAD says Santa typically begins his Christmas journey at the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean and then travels west around the world. This means that, historically, he first visited the South Pacific region, then New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, Central America, and South America.
“Please remember that Santa’s route can be affected by weather and therefore is indeed difficult to predict,” NORAD said, adding that it was “coordinating with Santa’s elf launch staff to confirm the time of his launch, but since then From now on, Santa Claus is giving the orders.”
