Christmas Day storm forecast to bring blizzard conditions to Plains and Midwest

[mahatmakanejeeves]

WEATHER

Christmas Day storm forecast to bring blizzard conditions to Plains and Midwest

DECEMBER 24, 2023 8:20 PM ET
Emma Bowman



Parts of the Midwest, including southern Minnesota, experienced blizzard conditions in 2016.
Jim Mone/AP

A major winter storm is forecast to hit parts of the Northern and Central Plains regions and the Upper Midwest with blizzard conditions and freezing rain, posing dangerous travel conditions over the Christmas holiday. ... South Dakota and Nebraska are expected to see heavy snow starting early Monday and increasing in intensity throughout the day. There's a high chance south-central and central South Dakota will get at least a foot of snowfall, the National Weather Service said in a Sunday afternoon update. Most of the state, as well as Nebraska and Kansas, are likely to see more than 4 inches of snow.

The snow, combined with strong winds, will produce blizzard conditions in the region, the NWS said. In addition to snow-covered roads and whiteout conditions, winds with up to 55 mph gusts could bring down tree branches, and powerlines could snarl travelers.

Farther north, the same storm is expected to dump sleet and freezing rain starting Monday afternoon, according to forecasters. At least 0.1 inch of ice could spell slippery roads and sidewalks from southwest Minnesota to the eastern Dakotas. Isolated power outages are also possible in the region, the NWS said.

As of Sunday evening, over 1,000 flights in the U.S. scheduled for Monday were delayed, with about 250 cancellations, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.

{snip}

[EYESORE 9001]

1. Stay safe, everyone

Meanwhile, in NE Ohio, daily highs this week in the upper 50s.



Nothing odd in this weather pattern. No siree bobcat.

[jimfields33]

2. Winter storms during winter. Who would have thunk it?

[EYESORE 9001]

6. I'm talking about the unseasonably warm weather in my locale

Not about to get into it today, despite chum that has been cast my way. Merry Christmas.

[jimfields33]

7. Merry Christmas!🎁

[House of Roberts]

3. Merry Christmas mahatmakanejeeves!

It's 58 here in the Tennessee Valley, so our blizzard is liquid this morning.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. Merry Christmas to you. Things are quiet in Ashland today.

I got up and as I almost always do, tuned in to watch 98 pass through Ashland. 164 stopped briefly an hour-and-a-half later.

{later}

Then 52, just now 88; 65 will be here in a few minutes. It's that kind of day.

[House of Roberts]

5. I heard a Keystone eastbound through Paradise as I woke up.

I left the computer audio on overnight, and after the last westbound it stayed quiet so I didn't know it was on.
Holiday schedules are usually sparse, but there are trains out there from time to time. Strasburg was running a double excursion schedule Saturday with the 89 and 90 alternating every half hour, then ran 90 five times yesterday. No excursion trains today of course.