Winter Storm Europa Gearing Up to Take Plains By Storm; Blizzard Conditions, Heavy Snow, Ice Likely For Christmas

December 24,2016
Winter Storm Europa is moving across the Rockies and will snarl Christmas holiday weekend travel with blizzard conditions, heavy snow, ice and potentially severe thunderstorms in parts of the Plains and Midwest. By early next week, snow, rain and freezing rain will arrive in the Northeast.
(MORE: How Winter Storms Are Named | Winter Storm Central

Current Radar and Conditions

Blizzard warnings are in effect for much of North Dakota and western and central South Dakota. Winter storm warnings have been posted from the Great Basin, including the Salt Lake Valley, and northern Arizona, including Flagstaff, to the high country of Colorado, parts of the northern Plains and a portion of northern Minnesota.
(MORE: What is a Blizzard? | The Nation's 'Blizzard Alley')
An ice storm warning is in effect for a portion of central Minnesota and southeastern North Dakota, where power outages and tree damage is likely due to ice accumulations up to 0.25 inches. Freezing rain advisories stretch from eastern South Dakota and central and southern Minnesota, including Minneapolis, into northern Iowa and central Wisconsin, where travel may become dangerous due to icy conditions.

Winter Weather Alerts

Europa's polar plunge of the jet stream is now carving through the Rockies.
(LATEST NEWS: Winter Storm Europa Brings Travel Headaches For Many)
That energy will pivot over the Plains states, intensifying into an intense area of low pressure on Christmas Day.
Snow, strong winds and some ice will affect locations along the path of this storm, likely causing travel delays for anyone taking to the roads and skies this holiday weekend in those regions.
(MORE: White Christmas Forecast | Christmas Travel Forecast)
First, we'll step through the timeline, then touch on how much snow, wind and ice may occur.
(MORE: 10-Day Forecast Maps)

Sunday

• Heavy snow will fall in parts of the northern Plains and Rockies.
• Blizzard conditions are likely in the northern Plains and High Plains, including parts of North Dakota, western South Dakota and northwestern Minnesota.
• A mix of sleet or freezing rain could affect locations just south and east of the snow, from the northern Plains to the upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes.
• The southern side of this storm system could also feature some thunderstorms, some of which may be severe in the central and southern Plains.
• By Sunday night, some light freezing rain may begin in parts of western New York and northern Pennsylvania.
• FORECAST: Rapid City, South Dakota | Bismarck, North Dakota | Minneapolis

Christmas Day Forecast (Sunday)

Monday

• Leftover snow is likely in parts of the northern Plains and northern Minnesota.
• Strong winds may lead to considerable blowing and drifting snow in these areas, with lingering blizzard conditions possible early.
• Some snow, sleet or freezing rain may hang on over parts of central and northern New York, northern Pennsylvania and northern New England.
• FORECAST: Fargo, North Dakota | Bangor, Maine

Monday's Forecast

Snow, Ice, Wind Forecasts

West

• At least 6 inches of snow are expected in the northern Rockies and Arizona's Mogollon Rim when all is said and done.
• Several inches of snow, possibly heavy, are also forecast for some low-elevation cities such as Boise, Idaho, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Flagstaff, Arizona.

Plains

• Over a foot of snow may accumulate in parts of North Dakota, northern and western South Dakota and perhaps far northwest Minnesota. Significant drifting is likely. 
• At least 6 inches of snow is a good bet in the High Plains of Montana and northern Wyoming. 
• Parts of the northern Plains and upper Midwest south and east of the snow area, as well as northern New England, could see 0.10 inches of ice accumulation, coating trees and untreated roads. Up to 0.25 inches of ice accumulation is possible in localized areas of northern Iowa, southern and central Minnesota, and eastern South Dakota. 

Snowfall Forecast

Forecast Ice Accumulations

Wind Forecast / Blizzard Potential

As low pressure intensifies, the combination of snow and strong winds will produce considerable blowing and drifting snow and blizzard conditions, in some areas.

• Whiteout conditions could potentially occur for a time Saturday over passes of the mountains of southern California.
• Wind-driven snow may make travel over higher elevations of the Four Corners (southern Colorado, northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, Utah) treacherous into early Sunday.
• High winds will pick up quickly in the northern Plains and High Plains Sunday, continuing into early Monday, with blizzard conditions likely in outlying areas, even in areas receiving lighter snowfall amounts.
• Travel will likely become impossible in these areas Christmas Day, lingering into early Monday, with numerous roads, including major interstates, likely to be shut down.
• The weight of snow, plus high winds, may lead to tree damage and power outages, which may last for several hours, if not longer, in some areas.

Forecast Gusts Sunday Night

Snowfall Totals, So Far

Here is a list of the highest snowfall totals from each state, separated by region, as of midday Saturday.

West

Arizona: 10 inches near Iron Springs​; Flagstaff: 7.2 inches
California: 32 inches on top of Mammoth Mountain
Colorado: 23 inches near Wolf Creek Pass
Idaho: 19.4 inches near Spencer at the Crab Creek Snotel
Montana: 14.7 inches in West Yellowstone
Nevada: 14 inches at Mount Rose Ski Area
Oregon: 7 inches near Prineville
Utah: 24.9 inches near Almo
Washington: 8.3 inches near Clayton
Wyoming: 14.2 inches at Driggs at the Philips Bench Snotel
Europa (your-OH-pah) is named from Greek mythology, the name of a princess who was abducted by Zeus. Europe is named for her.

MORE: Winter Storm Europa