The National Weather Service Las Vegas is warning of a significant holiday storm bringing "widespread rainfall today with isolated flash flooding, snow at the high elevations, and gusty winds that will impact Christmas travel." The system moving in from the West Coast is expected to deliver moderate to locally heavy rain across the region, creating hazardous travel and outdoor conditions, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters caution that "the Spring Mountains in particular may squeeze out several inches of rain from the precipitation band which could lead to excessive runoff and areas of roadway debris during the heaviest rainfall rates." While snow levels will initially remain high, the broader system is expected to produce "several feet of new accumulation" in the Sierra and White Mountains by the end of the week, with limited snow possible in the Spring Mountains as snow levels drop later, as reported by the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service is warning of “deteriorating flight conditions” as ceilings remain between 2,000 and 5,000 feet and showers “will become more widespread this afternoon, with the potential to result in visibility reductions to 3SM or less as well as periods of CIGS under 1kft.” These conditions may affect flight operations. The agency is also asking local spotters to “report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures.”
