JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A beloved holiday tradition is skating back into action!
The Jacksonville Icemen are teaming up with News4JAX to present the 2025 Santa Tracker, continuing a festive legacy that began decades ago when legendary meteorologist George Winterling first followed Santa’s journey using satellites and early NORAD updates.
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Now, with help from The Weather Authority’s modern technology — and the Icemen’s holiday spirit — tracking Santa has never been more exciting.
🛷 How we track Santa
Today’s Santa Tracking Center is more advanced than ever. The Weather Authority uses infrared satellite technology to detect the warmth of Rudolph’s bright red nose, giving meteorologists their very first clue that Santa is preparing for takeoff.
On Christmas Eve, the moment Rudolph’s nose lights up on our infrared systems at the North Pole, we’ll break into programming to alert Jacksonville that Santa is officially on the move. Sometimes, NORAD even captures rare footage of Santa and his reindeer launching into the sky!
Throughout the night, the Santa Tracker — presented by the Jacksonville Icemen — will bring updates every 30 minutes starting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24, with live cut-ins each time NORAD provides new visuals of Santa’s journey across the globe.
🌍 Santa’s expected path
If Santa follows a path similar to last year, here’s what we expect:
- Australia first, with potential glimpses of the Sydney Opera House
- South America, India, France, and England through the evening
- A flight across the Atlantic toward the Americas
- A first North American appearance in Canada, moving down the East Coast
- NORAD’s high-precision cameras in New York and Washington D.C., usually capture stunning sleigh footage
As Santa nears Florida, we switch to military sensors, radar, and our very own News4JAX tower cameras to pinpoint Saint Nick’s exact location.
Once he approaches the River City, we’ll alert families immediately so little ones know it’s officially time to head to bed!
🏒 A big thanks to the Jacksonville Icemen
This year’s Santa Tracker is presented by the Jacksonville Icemen, who are proud to help keep this magical tradition alive. Their partnership ensures that families across Northeast Florida get the most accurate, festive, and exciting Santa updates anywhere on TV.
From the rink to the radar, the Icemen are helping us deliver holiday cheer straight to your home.
🎄 Merry Christmas, Jacksonville!
From all of us at News4JAX, The Weather Authority, and our partners at the Jacksonville Icemen, we wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season. Stay tuned on Christmas Eve for the most magical night of the year — Santa’s journey, tracked live, just for you.❄️🎅