Potent Winter Storm in the Southwest

[CaptinCrunch]

Potent Winter Storm in the Southwest
9 AM EST, February 23, 2004

The latest in a series of storm systems
is affecting the Southwest with rain and
mountain snow.

Rain has been heavy overnight into
parts of southern California. A record
rainfall of 1.21 inches fell in Santa
Maria, California. A WeatherBug live
sensor in Alpine, California had
recorded .39 inches of rain just since
midnight.

In the Las Vegas area, between a
quarter and three quarters of an inch of
rain had fallen since Sunday evening.
More showers are expected through
Monday afternoon.

Snow levels had lowered to around
3,500 feet into the mountains of
southern California and Nevada. Over a
foot of snow has already fallen into this
area, with additional significant
accumulations expected through
Monday afternoon.

The storm, centered in California
Monday morning, will translate
eastward Monday. Rain and mountain
snow will increase through Arizona,
Nevada and New Mexico. Winter storm
warnings, advisories and watches
extend all the way east into the Texas
Panhandle.

Snow may accumulate to over 18
inches into the mountains of Arizona
and New Mexico by early Tuesday. The
highest accumulations will likely occur
on east-facing slopes.

It will be rain with embedded
thunderstorms for Phoenix and Yuma,
Arizona. There is even the potential for
spotty flooding.

Drier conditions will move into the West
and Southwest by Tuesday night. The
next storm will bring another round of
rain and snow into the region beginning
on Wednesday.

[Aslkahuna]

The first band has rotated northeast bringing varying amounts of rain to the area with one inch amounts common in western Pima County and 1/4 inch or greater amounts in Cochise County. Mt. Lemmon has received 9 inches of snow and snow has fallen at the Observatory on Kitt Peak. Snow levels this morning fell to around 5k in Cochise County. Thunderstorms are now in Pima and northern Santa Cruz County and more convective activity is expected as the ULL translates across tonight.

Steve