Summary Yesterday Plus Latest Look Ahead To Christmas

First, the NWS posted snowfall information for reports yesterday (Thursday) morning. (Note - having some text formatting problems this morning.)

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
 1140 AM MST THU DEC 18 2014
 
 ...STORM TOTAL SNOW AS OF THURSDAY MORNING...
 
 LOCATION          STORM TOTAL     TIME/DATE   ELEVATION                  
                      SNOWFALL           OF 
                      /INCHES/   MEASUREMENT
 
 ...GRAHAM COUNTY...
    MOUNT GRAHAM           6.0   900 AM 12/18  10600 FT                
    3 S MOUNT GRAHAM       3.5   900 AM 12/18  9000 FT                 
 
 ...GREENLEE COUNTY...
    HANNAGAN MEADOW        6.0  1100 AM 12/18  8900 FT                        
    6 NE HANNAGAN MEADOW   1.0  1100 AM 12/18  8000 FT                        
 
 ...PIMA COUNTY...
    3 SE SUMMERHAVEN       9.0   900 AM 12/18  7900 FT                 
    MT LEMMON SKI          8.0   900 AM 12/18  9100 FT                 
    SUMMERHAVEN            8.0   900 AM 12/18  7800 FT                 
    2 SE SUMMERHAVEN       6.5   900 AM 12/18  8200 FT                 
 

Although there was more snowfall during day yesterday, I 

have not seen any updated information.

About 60% of the ALERT network stations measured additional

rainfall yesterday. Two mountain sites had 0.31", 7 sites 

had 0.20" or more, and other reports were light. Here at 

house we had mid-morning showers that produced another 

0.04". 

This morning it is cold and frosty here and some spots in 

Arizona are reporting thick fog this early morning.

---------------------------------------------------------

Christmas is now within seven days and here is update on 

what ECMWF and GFS global models are forecasting for North America.

These 168-h 500 mb and sfc forecasts are again valid at 5 pm MST Christmas afternoon (as per the earlier post showing 240-h forecasts). Top forecasts are from the ECMWF and those below are from the GFS, 

The ECMWF continues to forecast a strong, winter storm system over the West. It is now forecasting a considerably stronger storm just northeast of the Great Lakes Region that would bring lake effect snows and general snows for much of New England. Features in the ECMWF forecast continue much stronger than similar features within the GFS forecast.

The GFS forecasts seem to be trending toward the ECMWF solutions. The GFS now forecasts a wintry, upslope storm from Colorado to Montana. The storm impacting the Great Lakes and New England is shifted north over Hudson's Bay, with mostly lake effect snows within its forecast.

Will check back a couple more times as the Holiday approaches. Air travel could be snarled the day before Christmas in Chicago and the big Northeast Airports. Travel after Christmas could be difficult through Denver and Chicago, so stay alert if you're heading those directions.