Winter Storm Europa Has Been Named: Blizzard Conditions, Heavy Snow and Ice Likely for the Northern Tier This Christmas Weekend

December 21,2016
Winter Storm Europa will bring heavy snow and ice to a large portion of the West and northern Plains. The mess arrives this Christmas weekend with a wintry mess of snow, sleet or freezing rain, and could lead to more problems to parts of the upper Midwest and northern New England.
Europa will be spawned by a bullish southward plunge of the jet stream and its associated surface low-pressure system moving in from the Pacific Ocean.
(MORE: How Winter Storms Are Named | Winter Storm Central

A southward dip in the jet stream plunges into the West late this week, then kicks into the Plains and Midwest. Snow, wind and some ice will be possible on the northern side of this storm system Christmas weekend.

That energy will plow through the Rockies, intensifying an area of surface low pressure northeastward across the Plains and upper Midwest during the weekend.
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 and wind may occur. Keep in mind, however, that forecast changes are likely in the days ahead, depending on the exact track of the storm and its intensity.

Friday: Snow Spreads Into Mountain West

• Heavy snow will fall in the Sierra Nevada, while rain, possibly heavy, falls across the lower elevations of California.
• Snow will also fall over the Cascades, Siskiyous, northern Great Basin and northern Rockies.
• Lowering snow levels are likely as the storm passes through the West.
• FORECAST: Bend, Oregon | Boise, Idaho | Tahoe City, California

Friday's Forecast

Saturday and Saturday Night: West Wintry Mess Spreads Into the Plains

• Snow, heavy in spots, will continue from the northern Rockies to the Great Basin and higher elevations of the Desert Southwest and southern California.
• Many lower elevations of the Great Basin are also likely to see snow with colder air pushing into the region.
• Late Saturday and especially Saturday night, snow is likely to push into the northern Plains. Light freezing rain or sleet may impact a swath south of the main area of snow as far east as the upper Mississippi Valley.
• The snow could be accompanied by increasing winds, leading to low visibility and poor travel conditions.
• FORECAST: Billings, Montana | Salt Lake City | Flagstaff, Arizona

Christmas Eve Forecast (Saturday)

(MORE: 10-Day Forecast Maps)

Sunday: Snow, Wind Will Likely Hammer the Northern Plains Christmas Day

• Heavy snow is likely in parts of the northern Plains and Rockies.
• Blizzard conditions are probable in the northern Plains and High Plains including parts of eastern Montana, Wyoming, the western Dakotas and possibly western Nebraska.
• 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 central or upstate New York
• FORECAST: Chicago | Bismarck, North Dakota | Minneapolis

Christmas Day Forecast (Sunday)

Monday: Snow, Freezing Rain, Sleet Possible in Northern Great Lakes, New England

• Leftover snow is likely in parts of the northern Plains.
• Strong winds may lead to considerable blowing and drifting snow in these areas, with blizzard conditions possible.
• Some snow, freezing rain or sleet may persist in the northern Great Lakes, northern New England and upstate New York.
• FORECAST: Fargo, North Dakota | Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan | Bangor, Maine

Monday's Forecast

Snowfall Potential

We're still a bit far out in time to nail down snowfall forecasts in the Plains states, but here is a general outlook for snow from the West into the Plains states.

West

• Over a foot of snow is probable in the Sierra, Siskyous, the southern Cascades, and mountains of Utah and southern Colorado. 
• At least 6 inches of snow is also expected in the northern Rockies, Arizona's Mogollon Rim, and the mountains of southern California.
• Several inches of snow, possibly heavy, are also forecast for some low-elevation cities such as Boise, Salt Lake City, and Flagstaff.

Plains

• Over a foot of snow may accumulate in parts of North Dakota, northern and western South Dakota, and perhaps northern Minnesota. 
• At least 6 inches of snow is a good bet in the High Plains of Montana and northern Wyoming. 
• Any icing in the upper Midwest and northern New England should be minimal, but could lead to some slick bridges and overpasses for a time before changing to rain or ending.

Snowfall Outlook

Note: A light snow event Friday and Friday night will precede the Christmas weekend event in parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley, accounting for the light snow accumulations forecasted there.

Wind Forecast / Blizzard Potential

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

• Whiteout conditions could occur for a time late Friday over the Sierra crest, and potentially over passes of the mountains of southern California Saturday.
• Wind-driven snow may make travel over higher elevations of the Four Corners (southern Colorado, northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southern Utah) treacherous Saturday into early Sunday.
• High winds will pick up on the northern Plains and High Plains Sunday, continuing into Monday, with blizzard conditions probable. 

Forecast Gusts Sunday Night

Europa (your-OH-pah) is named from Greek mythology, the name of a princess who was abducted by Zeus. Europe is named for her.