12/24/25 Tuesday 4 am
❄️ Holiday Forecast: A Traveler-Friendly Outlook 🎄
While the massive “monster storms” teased by previous model runs have shifted, we are settling into a much more manageable and travel-friendly pattern for the holiday season. If you have family coming into town or plans to head over the passes, this update is for you!
📍 The “Two-Phase” Game Plan
The models have finally converged on a sequence of events that keeps us active but avoids a total travel standstill:
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System 1 (Tonight – Friday): Warm moisture arriving from the California atmospheric river. Expect weak southwest flow bringing widespread energy to the region.
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System 2 (Saturday Night): A colder system arrives from the northwest, helping to drop snow levels and refresh the landscape.
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The Long View: A third potential system is already appearing on the horizon for just after New Year’s Day!
🚗 Travel & Impact Forecast
From a practical standpoint, this is the ideal solution for holiday commuters. While we won’t see a “Snowpocalypse,” there are still things to keep in mind:
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Pass Conditions: Expect minor impacts over high mountain passes tonight through Friday.
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Increased Traffic: With the Christmas rush and weekend travelers, even small amounts of wet snow can cause delays. Give yourself a little extra time!
📏 Expected Totals & Elevations
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Mountains: Widespread snow amounts of 2 to 5 inches are expected.
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Lower Elevations: Scattered rain and snow showers totaling 0.10″ to 0.40″ of liquid equivalent.
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Snow Levels: Starting high (above 9,500 feet) with the first warm system, then dropping significantly as the second colder front moves in this weekend.
DWG Bottom Line: We are trading record-breaking snow totals for safe travels and a white Christmas atmosphere. I’ll be back later today with a full “proper forecast” once the latest data is in!