According to its short range forecast, while most of the country will see lower levels of rainfall than in previous days, the west and southwest will see unsettled conditions due to a frontal system. This system will move through to the Great Basin and Four Corners region today and tomorrow, with “lingering snow showers” persisting for the Rockies, says NWS.
In Montana, the NWS forecasts that snowfall will accumulate to one to three inches at lower elevations and three to six inches in the mountains. Isolated amounts of near 10 inches in the ridge tops are possible. The alert will remain effect until 10:00 MST for Gallatin, Madison, Beaverhead and Jefferson Counties, with slippery road conditions making traveling difficult into tomorrow.
In Arizona, lower elevation rainfall could reach quarter to half an inch over the state resulting in localized flooding. In the Tonto Basin, there is an active flood watch—meaning the potential for flooding—which will remain in effect from this afternoon through to Thursday. This is due to a Pacific storm system, producing high flow and tributary washes. In Tonto Creek, the NWS predicts that flow will climb high enough to become impassable.
In the Tucson area—White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains and Catalina and Rincon Mountains—an urgent winter weather alert is in place until 1:00 a.m. MST for snowfall. According to the NWS, total snow accumulations of five to 10 inches above 7,000 feet with locally higher amounts possible above 8,500 feet are forecast, with wind gusts being as high as 35 miles per hour. NWS advises that hazardous road conditions will be likely, resulting in possible road closures.
In New Mexico, the western and northern parts of the state will see accumulating snow of up to three inches, with four to eight inches above 7,500 feet.
The alert, which is in effect until 5:00 p.m. tomorrow (Christmas Day), affects the far northwest highlands, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Tusas Mountains, including Chama, Chuska Mountains and Jemez Mountains.
People planning to travel on State Road 134, State Roads 38 and 518 and Highway 64 from Dulce to Chama, Tierra, Amarilla and Tres Piedras will be impacted, so check the latest road traffic information by calling 5-1-1.
In terms of temperatures, St. Louis could see record highs tomorrow on Christmas Day—in the lower 60s degrees Fahrenheit. Below normal temperatures are forecast for the west of the country behind the cold front—temperatures will be in the range of the upper 50s and lower 60s F for southern California and lower deserts of Arizona.
