Snow in the Southwest (Photo by Photos.com) By Matt Alto, Meteorologist
Mar 18, 2012; 6:25 AM ET
A strong and potent Pacific storm will continue its assault today as it bears down on the Southwest.
The storm has already been responsible for bringing feet of heavy snow across the Sierra, small hail to parts of Southern California, as well as blowing dust to the Deserts of California and powerful winds.
A tornado even touched down in central California Saturday afternoon.
Winds across the region will pick up throughout the course of today as the storm nears. By the afternoon hours, winds will be very strong across Arizona and New Mexico with gusts greater than 50 mph.
Blowing sand and dust is expected from the gusty winds, especially in areas that have not received any rainfall. The sand and dust will also reduce visibilities on highways and roadways.
In addition to the strong winds, widespread rain and snow is expected for much of the Four Corners today with numerous showers to follow for Monday.
Surprisingly, this storm will bring Phoenix its first measurable rain since Dec. 18. The city can expect to pick up between 0.50-1.00 inches of rain by the end of Monday.
"Phoenix is known for its dry climate, but this is normally a wet time of the year for the 'Valley of the Sun.' Phoenix typically receives nearly 3 inches of rain from late December through mid-March", according to Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.
A period of steady rain ahead of the cold front will continue to slide west to east across Arizona today before reaching western New Mexico by the afternoon and evening hours.
Travelers should be prepared for ponding of water on the roadways and the potential for slick road conditions as the rain overspreads the region.
Behind the cold front, rain and mountain snow showers will continue to stream across California.
Snow levels will start out rather high throughout the Four Corners region, between 6,000-8,000 feet. However, they will come crashing down to around 4,000 feet as the cold front barrels through the region.
According to Expert Senior Meteorologist Ken Clark, "Snow accumulations above 8,000 feet will be 2 to 3 feet. From 6,000 to 8,000 feet expect an average of 1 to 2 feet with locally higher amounts possible. Down to 3,000 to 4,000 feet a few inches of snow are possible."
In addition to the heavy snowfall, strong winds will cause blowing and drifting snow which will make for hazardous driving conditions by limiting visibilities, especially in the mountains of northern Arizona.
Motorists are advised to use caution and keep a safe distance between themselves and any vehicle that may be in front of them.
Fair weather will return to the Southwest for the rest of the week as the storm slides to the east bringing an outbreak of severe weather to the southern Plains early next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment