Las Vegas Area Given a White Christmas This Year

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Las Vegas residents dreaming of a white Christmas won't have to stray too far.

A strong winter storm will bring heavy snow to higher elevations mainly north and east of the Las
Recent Las Vegas Snow Storms  Vegas area beginning tonight. A winter storm watch is in effect from tonight through Thursday for higher elevations of Clark County, all of Lincoln County and much of southwest Utah and northwest Arizona.

The National Weather Service said significant accumulations -- possibly up to one foot -- are possible at elevations above 5,000 feet.

Closer to home, forecasters said the high should reach about 53 degrees this afternoon in Las Vegas. After a 60 percent chance of rain tonight, Christmas Day will be nearly a carbon copy of today.

Unsettled weather will stick around the Las Vegas area through Friday morning, when the far western Las Vegas Valley has a slight chance of seeing snow flurries, forecasters said.

Cooler and drier weather will enter the forecast Friday and Saturday, with mostly sunny skies and a high both days of 46 degrees.

The average high temperature on today's date and Christmas Day at McCarran International Airport is 56 degrees, according to weather service records.