A deal to refund his customers' money if it snowed on Christmas looked like it might land the owner of B.C. sports store Mad Dog's Source For Sports in the doghouse.

But because the white Christmas came early -- snowing nearly a foot on Christmas Eve -- Randy "Mad Dog" Bishop likely won't have to pay a tab worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"Everybody told me it never snows on Christmas Day," said Bishop, adding that he started the "Let it snow!" promotion 15 years ago to encourage sales.

Since then, this year is the only year he's even come close to having to pay out the prize.

"It's hundreds of thousands of dollars and I'm kind of freaking out about it," he said early on Thursday.

The Lower Mainland of B.C. is known for its balmy weather in the winter. But as snow hammered the region this week, snarling traffic and causing chaos at the airport, Bishop realized that what seemed impossible might become possible this year.

"I don't think I've seen a Christmas with this much snow ever," he said.

But in the fine print, Bishop stipulates that the snow must come down on Christmas Day itself, in volumes of 12.5 cm or more, measured at the Vancouver International Airport.

While nearly a foot of snow came down on Wednesday, December 24 at the airport, there were only isolated flurries on Thursday, December 25.

While as of this writing there are still a few hours left, it looks like Bishop is going to keep his money.

He thanks his stars Christmas wasn't on Wednesday. His customers say they aren't so lucky.

"Next year, that's what I tell them," said Bishop. "The rules are the rules."

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jon Woodward