Just after celebrating the shortest day of the year, Northern New Mexicans could well be singing, "Oh, the weather outside is frightful," as a winter storm rolls into the area tonight.

The storm, blasting out of the Pacific Northwest and through Nevada, could make for a white Christmas in parts of New Mexico. Santa Fe has a 50 percent chance of snow through Wednesday.

Forecasters from the National Weather Service put out a winter storm watch for the northwest mountains, including the Jemez Mountains. Southwest-facing, high-elevation slopes are expected to receive the most snow, at least 8 inches or more. The storm is expected to drop snow in the north central mountains as well. AccuWeather forecasters predict 2 to 4 inches in Santa Fe.

The storm is expected to hit the northwestern part of New Mexico this morning and increase in intensity through today and Wednesday. A cold front associated with the storm will cause a big drop in temperatures through the holiday weekend.

The storm should be moving out by Wednesday afternoon, according to forecasts.

Travelers are urged to check weather conditions before heading out and to go prepared for emergencies — carry extra food, warm clothing, sleeping bags or blankets, water, medicine and flashlights.

Be sure someone knows your route and when you expect to arrive. Forecasters have predicted a wet winter because of an El Niño pattern in the equatorial Pacific. El Niño usually brings more moisture to the Southwestern United States.

For more information, visit www.srh.noaa.gov/abq/ or call 511 for road conditions.