Snow expected on Mount Charleston

By Tim Richardson

Published Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008 | 6:04 a.m.

Updated Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008 | 11:16 a.m.

Las Vegas residents dreaming of a white Christmas won't have to stray too far.

The National Weather Service this morning upgraded a winter storm watch to a warning, saying up to 18 inches of snow could fall in the mountains of Southern Nevada. Although no snow is expected in the Las Vegas Valley, it's a different story for elevations above 5,000 feet.

Metro Police are cautioning drivers to be prepared before trekking to the Mount Charleston area. Only four-wheel drive vehicles will be permitted and chains will be required.

"The conditions may make snow tires ineffective and too dangerous to be used on the snow-packed roads," police said in an advisory this morning. "All drivers with snow tires are cautioned they may not be allowed up the mountain. This decision will be made as the weather conditions dictate."

Further driving instructions will be posted on Nevada Department of Transportation signs along the roadways leading to Mount Charleston.

Police said "traffic gridlock" is expected in the Mount Charleston area over the holiday and fewer than 300 parking spaces will be available. Vehicles parked along roadways will be ticketed or towed, police said.

The winter storm warning is in effect from 6 p.m. tonight to 4 a.m Friday for higher elevations of Clark County, all of Lincoln County and much of southwest Utah and northwest Arizona.

Light and moderate snowfall at higher elevations today will increase in intensity on Christmas Day as a cold front pushes through, forecasters said.

Closer to home, forecasters said temperatures will peak near 50 degrees today in Las Vegas. After a 50 percent chance of rain tonight, Christmas Day will bring temperatures in the low 50s with rain likely.

The valley should see winds of 30 mph gusting to 47 mph on Thursday, the weather service said.

Cooler and drier weather will enter the forecast Friday and Saturday with mostly sunny skies and highs in the middle 40s.

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