New data is in and it's looking even wetter for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. The totals are up to near 2" for most of our area. This would be enough to cause flooding in poor drainage areas and small streams and creeks.

Low pressure working in from the west will bring very mild conditions to the area on Christmas Eve. Temperatures are expected to climb into the low 40s for most of the day, with a breezy southeasterly wind. Rain showers develop tomorrow afternoon and become widespread and heavy as the day progresses. Temperatures will become warmest Chirstmas Eve night, in the 50s! The combination of warm temperatures, wind, and high humidity is expected to melt a significant amount of snow in the region.

A strong cold front arrives Christmas morning. The front will arrive early, accomapnied by gusty winds, heavy rain, and a sharp drop in temperature. The good news is that a flash freeze is less likely to happen now that the front is delayed to the morning. Temperatures are expected to drop from 50s to 30s during the day, meaning most areas will stay just above freezing. Scattered Christmas Day snow showers are expected, with a light accumulation.

The wildcard is snow melt. It's difficult to predict exactly how much snow will melt during a 24 hour warmup. It's even more difficult to predict the rate of melt and the rate at which it moves into streams and rivers. This will ultimately determine the extent of flooding for streams, creeks, and rivers. Bottom line, if you live in a flood prone area be on alert Christmas Day.