Post-Christmas Storm May Bring Heavy Snow, Strong Winds, Ice and Severe Weather to Central U.S.

A significant post-Christmas winter storm is looking more likely starting this weekend in the nation's midsection. Some of the heaviest snow amounts may target parts of the southern High Plains where strong winds could also cause blizzard conditions.

In addition to snow, strong winds and ice, this storm could also produce severe thunderstorms and heavy rain this weekend. For more on that story, click the link below.

(MORE: Severe Weather Forecast)

The storm will develop in response to upper-level energy moving into the western states late this week and will eventually pivot into the southern Plains and then move northeastward through the Midwest early next week. In response to that upper-level energy, a surface low pressure will develop in the southern Plains this weekend, which combined with sufficient cold air to its north from high pressure, will result in heavy snow for parts of the Rockies and the Plains.

Since we are several days away from this storm taking shape, uncertainty remains with the details, including the exact location and timing of the snow. Below is an overview of our forecast right now, but keep in mind that changes are likely in the days leading up to the storm.

Post-Christmas Storm Timing

Thursday-Friday

The upper-level energy associated with this storm system will spread snow from California's Sierra Nevada into Utah, northern Arizona and Colorado. Some snow may also push out into the northern Plains and Upper Midwest by later Friday and Friday night as a weak wave of low pressure moves through.

Saturday

Snow continues to sweep eastward across parts of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest during the day as weak low pressure moves through. This includes a swath from the Dakotas to Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

Through the day and especially Saturday night, the storm will really begin to crank up in the southern Plains, with snow or rain changing to snow increasing across parts of New Mexico, west Texas and western Oklahoma. Increasing winds combined with the snow may lead to poor visibility and dangerous travel conditions in the southern High Plains. Blizzard conditions are not out of the question. A narrow band of freezing rain or sleet is also possible from the Texas Panhandle to west Oklahoma and central Kansas, particularly Saturday night.

Cities Potentially Affected: Albuquerque, New Mexico | Roswell, New Mexico | Amarillo, Texas | Lubbock, TexasInterstates Potentially Affected: I-40, I-25, I-27, I-70

Snow, possibly heavy, persists in parts of New Mexico, west Texas, southwestern Kansas and southeastern Colorado. Strong winds on the backside of the low pressure system will likely combine with the snow resulting in poor visibility and dangerous travel conditions with possible blizzard conditions at times. A transition area of sleet and freezing may continue from parts of the Texas Panhandle to central Kansas.

Cities Potentially Affected: Roswell, New Mexico | Lubbock, Texas | Amarillo, Texas | Dodge City, Kansas

Interstates Potentially Affected: I-40, I-25, I-70, I-20, I-10

Monday - Tuesday

The timing of the storm is highly uncertain early next week, and will depend on how quickly the area of low pressure moves northeastward into the Midwest and the exact track that low takes. In addition, the amount of cold air available for the storm to tap into could be limited.

For now, snow or a wintry mix may pivot from the southern High Plains into Upper Midwest Monday into Tuesday as shown on our forecast maps below. Wintry weather is also possible in parts of Upstate New York and New England as moisture from the storm runs into cold air supplied by high pressure in eastern Canada. Check back for updates to this forecast through the weekend. 

How Much Snow?

At the moment, computer model forecast guidance is indicating that some of the heaviest snow may target parts of southeast Colorado, southwestern Kansas, western Oklahoma, western Texas and eastern New Mexico. This is depicted by the dark purple and pink shadings on our forecast graphic below. It's not out of the question that some locations could see 6+ inches or even a foot or more of total snow.

Several inches of accumulating snow will also likely fall across the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest Friday night through Saturday. A second round of accumulating snow may blanket parts of the northern and central Plains and Upper Midwest early next week, but that will depend on the amount of cold air available and the exact track of the low pressure system forming in the southern Plains this weekend.

Note: This map also shows snow forecast in the days leading up to this storm, particularly in the West.

More on Weather.com: Deepest Snow in All 50 States