Winter Weather Alert: Which states will see snow storms today, Saturday December 23?
Winter weather will be affecting communities across the country creating hazardous conditions in some areas. Check out the full list of NWS alerts.
Cold temperatures and snow are creating dangerous conditions around the country. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued dozens of alerts. If you live in an affected area, it is advised that you take the proper precautions to stay safe. We have compiled all of the current winter alerts active for Saturday 23 December, and for the full details, check out the NWS website.
What is a Winter Weather Advisory?
The NWS issues a Winter Weather Advisory “for any amount of freezing rain, or when 2 to 4 inches of snow (alone or in combination with sleet and freezing rain), is expected to cause a significant inconvenience, but not serious enough to warrant a warning.” For the details, please review the information uploaded to the NWS website, which compiles and updates these alerts.
What is a Winter Storm Warning?
The more severe alert issued by the NWS is a Winter Storm Warning, which includes “heavy snow of at least six inches in 12 hours, or at least eight inches in 24 hours, is expected. It can also be issued if sleet accumulation will be at least half an inch.”
What is a Freezing Fog Advisory?
The NWS issues a Freezing Fog Advisory when visibility is below one mile in freezing fog. Low visibility can make driving conditions hazardous. Freezing fog will also lead to icy spots on roadways, especially on elevated surfaces such as overpasses and bridges.
What is an Ice Storm Warning? A Blizzard Warning?
The NWS also issues other severe weather alerts: one is called an Ice Storm Warning, where ice accumulation of at least one-fourth of an inch is expected, while a Blizzard Warning is given when blizzard conditions are expected for at least three hours.
Alaska
Winter Weather Advisory: Copper River Basin, Western Kenai Peninsula, Western Arctic Coast (until Dec. 24 9 a.m. AKST), Lower Kuskokwim Valley, (until Dec. 23 12 p.m. AKST), Shishmaref, Bering Strait Coast (until Dec. 24 9 p.m. AKST), Dalton Highway Summits, White Mountains and High Terrain South of the Yukon River (until Dec. 24 6 p.m. AKST)
Winter Storm Warning: Haines Borough and Klukwan; Municipality of Skagway, Lower Yukon and Innoko Valleys (until Dec. 24 6 a.m. AKST), Western Prince William Sound (until Dec. 24 3 a.m. AKST)
Blizzard Warning: Northeast Prince William Sound (until Dec. 23 11 p.m. AKST) Alaska Peninsula (until Dec. 23 12 p.m. AKST), Bristol Bay, (until Dec. 23 3 p.m. AKST)
Avalanche Warning: East Turnagain Arm; Western Prince William Sound (until Dec. 24 6 a.m. AKST) The backcountry avalanche danger is HIGH. Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Heavy snowfall and strong winds will create widespread areas of unstable snow. Both human triggered and natural large avalanches are likely. Debris from avalanches above may run into valley bottoms. Avalanche conditions will remain very dangerous immediately after the snow finishes.
Arizona
Winter Weather Advisory: Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains including Mount Graham; Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount Lemmon, Summerhaven; White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties including Hannagan Meadow (until Dec. 23 5 p.m. MST)
Winter Storm Warning: Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau, White Mountains (until Dec. 23 8 p.m. MST)
California
Winter Weather Advisory: Riverside County Mountains; San Bernardino County Mountains (until Dec.23 4 a.m. PST)
Colorado
Winter Storm Warning: Southwest San Juan Mountains, Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Ft (until Dec. 24 5 a.m. MST) Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 And 11000 Ft; Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains above 11000 Ft; Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Ft; Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Between 7500 and 11000 Ft (until Dec. 24 5 p.m. MST)
Winter Weather Advisory: Uncompahgre Plateau, Dallas Divide, Northwestern San Juan Mountains La Garita Mountains Above 10000 Ft; Upper Rio Grande Valley, Eastern San Juan Mountains Below 10000 Ft, Eastern Sawatch Mountains above 11000 Ft; Western Chaffee County Between 9000 and 11000 Ft; Western Mosquito Range, East Lake County Above 11000 Ft, South and East Jackson, Larimer, North and Northeast Grand, Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet; South and Southeast Grand, West Central and Southwest Boulder, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Summit, North and West Park Counties Above 9000 Feet (until Dec. 24 5 a.m. MST), Elkhead and Park Mountains; Flat Tops, Gore and Elk Mountains, Central Mountain Valleys; Grand and Battlement Mesas; West Elk and Sawatch Mountains (until Dec. 24 11 a.m. MST) Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Ft, Wet Mountains above 10000 Ft; Wet Mountains between 6300 and 10000Ft (until Dec. 24 5 p.m. MST)
Idaho
Winter Weather Advisory: Southern Clearwater Mountains, Eastern Lemhi County (until Dec.23 8 a.m.)
Kansas
Winter Weather Advisory: Cheyenne; Sherman (until Dec. 24 6 p.m.)
Montana
Winter Weather Advisory: Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains (until Dec. 23 12 p.m. MST), Red Lodge Foothills (until Dec. 23 11 p.m. MST), Southern Big Horn (until Dec. 24 5 a.m. MST), Lower Clark Fork Region, Bitterroot, Sapphire Mountains, Butte, Blackfoot Region (until Dec. 23 8 a.m. MST), West Glacier Region (until Dec. 23 11 a.m. MST)
Nebraska
Winter Weather Advisory: Dundy, Sheridan; Western Cherry, Arthur; Blaine; Brown; Chase; Deuel; Eastern Cherry; Garden; Grant; Hooker; Keith; Keya Paha; Lincoln; Logan; McPherson; Perkins; Rock; Thomas (until Dec. 24 6 p.m. CST)
New Mexico
Winter Storm Warning: Jemez Mountains; Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains; Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains; Tusas Mountains Including Chama (up to Dec. 24. 5 a.m. MST)
Winter Weather Advisory: Chuska Mountains; Southwest Mountains; Upper Rio Grande Valley; West Central Mountains (up to Dec. 24. 5 a.m. MST)
South Dakota
Winter Weather Advisory: Northern Black Hills (until Dec. 24 8 a.m. MST), Bennett; Northern Oglala Lakota; Southern Jackson; Southern Oglala Lakota, Mellette; Todd; Tripp (until Dec. 24 5 p.m. MST)
Utah
Winter Weather Advisory: La Sal and Abajo Mountains (until Dec. 24 5 a.m. MST)
Wyoming
Winter Weather Advisory: Wyoming Black Hills, Northeast Johnson County; Southeast Johnson County, Green Mountains and Rattlesnake Range, Natrona County Lower Elevations (until Dec. 24 8 a.m. MST), Cody Foothills; North Bighorn Basin; Southeast Bighorn Basin; Southwest Bighorn Basin, Lander Foothills; Wind River Basin, Sheridan Foothill (until Dec. 24 5 a.m. MST)
It’s important to keep yourself updated with the latest weather alerts. To get the full details, you can visit the NWS website. In most cases, these warnings will advise you to stay off the roads or take necessary precautions. For instance, make sure to give yourself extra time to reach your destination as the roads might be slippery and require you to slow down at certain points. When you’re not on the road, it’s also important to be cautious while walking on walkways, sidewalks, and paths as they can become icy and increase the risk of injuries.