Hot off the press - Mother Nature could deliver a powerful winter storm as we go into the week of Christmas.
.jpg)
Before you dream of a White Christmas and grab those sleds from the attic there is some information you need to know. First, and foremost, the winter storm that may develop next week will NOT give us any snow for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Sorry for the all disappointing news snow fans.
In fact, leading up to Christmas our weather will be pretty typical for this time of year with clouds and temperatures in the upper 50's. If you plan on traveling over the weekend to see loved ones for the holidays you'll be in good shape. The west coast near San Francisco and Los Angles may feature some delays but majority of the lower 48s will be tranquil.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day look to feature plenty of clouds and scattered rain showers in Arkansas. Generally speaking, a low pressure system will be getting its act together in the southern region and begin to force moist air through the gulf coast.
Beyond Christmas Day appears interesting. Several computer models amplify the surface low and carry it northeast. As it drifts into our backyard, the winter system will likely spread cold, arctic air on the back side of it. Eventually, this frigid air will interact with the moisture wrapping around the low causing snow to fall from the Mid-West into, wait for it, Arkansas. So far, majority of the models have brought snow into Northern Arkansas and not much of Central Arkansas. Besides the snow potential there are a few selected outputs that show hints of severe weather across the Natural State and the Mississippi Valley. We'll have to be on guard for this situation if the low is that intense and the air ahead of it can become unstable.
Of course it is way too soon to jump on the snow band wagon or talk about severe weather. We've been teased with snow around the holidays before (last year was the same ordeal) and it didn't pan out. That being said, we need to keep this storm development in the back of our minds. All of the models are hinting at a very strong winter storm next week and they haven't deviated from the solution yet. The track seems to be most difficult part to determine at this hour and that means all the difference between us just getting pouring rain, severe weather or snow flakes.
We'll continue to stay on top of this development and let you know the latest on the FOX 16 Weather Blog.
