Updated Dec. 25, 2019 2:20 PM
A potent storm threatens to bring post-Christmas travel to a standstill as it unleashes heavy rainfall and burying snow from Southern California to the Four Corners states.
A weak system preceding the more powerful storm brought wintry scenes to northern Arizona on Christmas Eve. Even more snow is forecast to pile up at the end of this week.
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Snow in the Grand Canyon from Christmas Eve, 2019. (Twitter/@GrandCanyonNPS)
"Significant travel and retail delays are expected across the region," AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.
The heaviest rainfall will reach Los Angeles and San Diego on Christmas night and linger through the first half of Thursday. One to 2 inches of rain is expected with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 4 inches.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jack Boston shared his concern about the amount of rain falling. In such a short amount of time, the rain could lead to flash flooding and mudslides.
For Southern California, Thursday is expected to be the busiest travel day following Christmas, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). The rain expected early on this day is likely to add to the slowdowns on the roadways.
Motorists should keep an eye out for roads that may be closed due to flooding or blocked by debris.
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"Skiers and snowboarders will be happy at the resorts as a beneficial snow is expected," Roys said.
The fresh powder on the slopes will come with the caveat of slippery to even dangerous travel.
The Los Angeles County Public Works urged residents on Twitter to be cautious around the wintry and icy conditions in the region. The County Sheriff's Department also opened winter shelter programs this week to help residents who can't escape the cold.
"This storm contains very cold air which will drive snow levels as low as 2,500-3,500 feet," Boston said. "Heavy snowfall of 6-18 inches is forecast in the mountains north and east of the Los Angeles basin and mountains to the east of San Diego, which will cause major travel problems."
Boston anticipates travel problems and possible road closures to affect the Grapevine section of Interstate 5 north of Los Angeles, with the heaviest snow falling Wednesday night through Thursday evening. Snowy, slippery conditions are also likely to reach I-15's Cajon Pass.
Snow can pile up at a fast enough rate to strand unsuspecting motorists. Make sure to have a winter weather emergency kit in your car before venturing out.
As the storm tracks eastward late Thursday into Friday, rain and snow will slowly wind down across Southern California, while picking up in intensity over the Four Corners states.
Phoenix will be dampened by rain at times as temperatures are held in the middle 50s F for a high on Friday, about 10 degrees Fahrenheit below normal.
Travel in and around Flagstaff, Arizona, is expected to be difficult with up to a foot of snow forecast to fall from late Thursday through Friday.
Similar snowfall totals can occur farther east as the storm ejects out of the Rockies and onto the High Plains by the weekend.
A stretch of more settled weather will then move into Southern California and the Desert Southwest in the wake of the storm.
AccuWeather meteorologists will be monitoring the potential for yet another storm to dive southward into the region as 2019 ends.
Download the free AccuWeather app to check the forecast in your area. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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