Nor’easter Could Bring White Christmas to Millions

Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- While blizzard conditions may have ended over the U.S. for now, a nor'easter is now a possibility for Dec. 24-25, which might mean a white Christmas for major cities along the East Coast from Washington, D.C., to Boston and hectic travel conditions for millions.

Over the last 24 hours, some 24 inches of snow fell in New Mexico, with winds gusting over 70 mph in the mountains. Up to a foot of snow from was seen from Colorado to Kansas and Oklahoma, and 10-foot drifts were reported in Colorado.

As the storm crawled across the region, it shuttered highways and was blamed for a number of deaths.

The storm has weakened as it moves east, and it may mostly be a rainmaker, with thunderstorms along the Gulf Coast.  Some of these storms could produce heavy rain with minor flooding, gusty winds and some hail.

The storm will hit the East Coast Wednesday morning with rain from Atlanta to Boston.  Some airport delays are expected as rain and low clouds come into the region. Afterwards, a new storm is predicted to form, which could usher in a white Christmas for millions.

Three scenarios are possible for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. The first would be snow just outside major East Coast cities, with rain changing to snow from Washington, D.C., to Boston.

Another possibility is that rain will be seen along the coast, with snow inland in areas like the Poconos in Pennsylvania, New York's Catskills mountains and mountains in New England.

The final scenario is that the storm moves south of the Northeast, and misses the major cities altogether.

"My feeling on this storm it will be mostly rain for major cities along the coast with snow further inland," ABC News meteorologist Max Golembo said. "But we know how unpredictable storms could be this time of the year, so I would check in tomorrow and every day until Saturday for updated information."

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