Winter storm could bring snow showers to Las Vegas Valley this week

A strong cold front could give Las Vegas its own version of wintry weather later this week.

As a powerful storm continues to cripple the East Coast, forecasters say a weather system could dump snow in the mountains of Southern Nevada during the middle of the week. The National Weather Service said snow showers will be possible in the Las Vegas Valley on Thursday morning.

The high temperature today in Las Vegas is expected to reach 57 degrees with mostly sunny skies. After similar weather Tuesday, forecasters said Las Vegas has an 80 percent chance of rain on Wednesday.

The cold front moving through the Mojave Desert and Southern Great Basin will usher in wind gusts up to 21 mph in Las Vegas and could prompt wind advisories, the weather service said.

The low temperature early Thursday will drop to about 35 degrees in Las Vegas with a chance of snow showers in the valley.

Rain is possible before 10 p.m. Wednesday, but the precipitation could turn to light snow as low as 2,100 feet in elevation -- about the same elevation as the Las Vegas Strip -- as temperatures tumble to about 30 degrees in the valley. The chance of precipitation in the valley is 40 percent, the weather service said.

No snow accumulation is expected in the valley. Forecasters issued a winter storm watch ahead of the storm for areas in Southern Nevada above 5,000 feet.

Chilly temperatures will stick around for the biggest night of the year in Las Vegas. The high will reach about 43 degrees on New Year's Eve with the morning low dipping to 31 on New Year's Day, forecasters said.

The average high temperature in Las Vegas in late December is 56 degrees, according to weather service records.

Also today, a powerful East Coast blizzard was causing ripples at McCarran International Airport as several flights were delayed or canceled after several major airports were shut down.

US Criticizes Russian Court's Guilty Ruling on Khodorkovsky

The United States on Monday criticized a Russian court's decision to find jailed former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev guilty of embezzlement and money laundering. 

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the new charges against Khodorkovsky and Lebedev raise serious questions "about the rule of law being overshadowed by political considerations" in Russia. 

Both defendants have denied the charges, saying they were framed for supporting opposition candidates and critics of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who was president at the time of Khodorkovsky's 2003 arrest. 

A spokesman for European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said Monday the EU is monitoring the process, including the expected sentencing. The spokesman called on Russia to respect human rights and the rule of law. 

Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, and Lebedev were accused of embezzling oil and laundering $27 billion in proceeds during a six-year period. They have yet to be sentenced. 

Khodorkovsky and Lebedev are nearing the end of 8-year prison terms for fraud and tax evasion. Defense lawyers say they will appeal the new verdicts.

Defense lawyer Vadim Klyuvgant said Monday the verdict was unjust. He said he believes the court was pressured into reaching its verdict rather than making an independent decision. 

Defense witnesses, including a former Russian prime minister, said the charges were a politically motivated pretext to keep the two imprisoned. 

Mikhail Kasyanov, President Putin's prime minister from 2000 to 2004, testified earlier this year that the Kremlin ordered Khodorkovsky's arrest because he angered Mr. Putin by funding opposition parties. 

Police detained 12 supporters of the defendants from a crowd demonstrating outside the Moscow court Monday as the verdict was being read.

watch online raw RAW 2010.12.21

AUSTIN, Texas -

T’was five days before Christmas,
And all through WWE,
The Superstars were stirring,
In the wake of TLC...

Randy Orton, John Morrison & Jerry Lawler def. WWE Champion The Miz, Alex Riley & Sheamus (WATCH |PHOTOS)
The ghosts of The Miz’s past, present and future came back to haunt him inside the ring. Teaming up with Alex Riley & Sheamus, the WWE Champion faced Randy Orton, John Morrison & Jerry “The King” Lawler in a Six-Man Tag Team Match. During the bout, The Viper decisively damaged Miz with a surprising RKO, which allowed Lawler to roll him up for the pin.

Afterward, the Raw GM arranged a second Raw match to take place at Tuesday night’s live SmackDown event: WWE Champion The Miz will clash with The Viper, Randy Orton. In the wake of the announcement, “The Cleveland Screamer” and Orton continued to brawl until Miz ran up the entrance ramp. 

Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler & Vickie Guerrero vs. John Cena in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match on SmackDown live Tuesday night (WATCH)
After berating her main squeeze, Dolph Ziggler, for losing to John Cena, SmackDown Official Consultant Vickie Guerrero arranged a 2-on-1 Handicap Match. She and her Intercontinental Champion boyfriend will tackle Cena on a special, live edition of SmackDown Tuesday night at 9/8 CT on USA Network, as part of WWE Week.

John Cena def. Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler in a Non-Title Match (WATCH: PART 1 | PART 2 |PHOTOS)
Fresh off their respective victories at WWE TLC, John Cena and Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler each wanted to say a few words to the WWE Universe. Unfortunately for WWE’s 2010 Superstar of the Year, Ziggler, accompanied by his mouthy girlfriend Vickie Guerrero, had no qualms about interrupting his fellow Superstar. Rather than listen to Ziggler’s noise, the Raw GM arranged a match pitting him against Cena.

A resurrected Cena proved too overpowering for his foe, who defeated the Intercontinental Champion in solid fashion. After the bout, however, CM Punk left the Raw announce table and ambushed Cena with a steel chair across the back.

WWE Tag Team Champion Santino Marella & Taminadef. Ted DiBiase & Maryse (WATCH | PHOTOS)
Love conquers all. Look no further than Santino Marella & Tamina. Not only did amore overpower the unlikely pairing, it also helped the couple defeat Ted DiBiase & Maryse. Their chemistry allowed them to best the former “golden couple” when Tamina managed to pin her blonde counterpart.

U.S. Champion Daniel Bryan def. William Regal(WATCH | PHOTOS)
The student became the teacher when United States Champion Daniel Bryan faced off against William Regal. The Englishman, a former trainer and mentor of Bryan, battled his apt pupil in a non-title bout. In the end, it was Bryan who managed to teach Regal a thing or two.

After his victory, Bryan scored another win when his companions of late, Brie and Nikki Bella, each laid a sweet lip lock on the U.S. Champion.

Melina def. Eve and Alicia Fox in a Triple Threat Match(WATCH | PHOTOS)
Melina must enjoy pain. How else to explain why she would slap Natalya when the Divas Champion tried to congratulate her on her victory moments earlier? The Latina lovely had defeated Eve and Alicia Fox in a Triple Threat Match to earn No. 1 contender status for the Divas Championship. Prior to their future championship bout, however, Melina sent a clear shot across the bow of the S.S. Nattie with her five finger affront before storming off.

Raw General Manager announced main event(WATCH)
It was enough to sap the Christmas spirit right out of the arena. After retaining the WWE Title at WWE TLC the night before, The Miz entered the ring bearing the gift of gab. As he bragged about his controversial victory over Randy Orton, his acolytes, Alex Riley and Michael Cole, joined him, representing the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present, respectively. His heart two sizes too small, Miz ripped The Viper and then trained his verbal fire onto John Morrison, who defeated Sheamus at WWE TLC to claim No. 1 contender status.

Having heard enough, The Shaman of Sexy confronted his former tag team partner. The situation became so heated, in fact, that Miz and Riley attacked Morrison, prompting Jerry “The King” Lawler to come to his aid. The fracas erupted further when the 2010 King of the Ring sprinted down to join the attack on Morrison.

As the WWE Champion exited up the entrance ramp, the anonymous Raw General Manager interrupted, arranging the night’s main event, a Six-Man Tag Team Match pitting Miz, Riley & Sheamus against Morrison, Lawler & Orton, who then surprised the WWE Champion with a clothesline on the entrance ramp.

watch online wwe Festival 2010

watch online wwe SmackDown 2010.12.22

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SAN ANTONIO – On a special live edition ofSmackDown, CM Punk played the role of "The Grinch," ruining John Cena’s Christmas week by smashing him with a steel chair for the second night in a row.

John Cena def. Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler & Official SmackDown Consultant Vickie Guerrero in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match (WATCH |PHOTOS)
Not happy just standing in the corner watching, Official SmackDown Consultant Vickie Guerrero had no problem joining the fray in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match. But when she meddled too much, Cena shocked the WWE Universe by planting a kiss on her! Next, Cena turned his attention to Ziggler, dropping him with an Attitude Adjustment for the pinfall. With Vickie livid at the loss, Cena was poised to dispatch of her with the same maneuver. However before he could, CM Punk rushed the ring and smashed the Raw Superstar in the gut with a steel chair, then blasted him again for good measure. It was the second night in a row that Punk delivered such a dastardly deed.

Christmas Eve replayWatch a special replay of SmackDown on Friday Dec. 24 at 8/7 CT on Syfy. (Find Syfy in your area)

Rey Mysterio &  Kofi Kingston def. Alberto Del Rio &Jack Swagger (WATCH | PHOTOS)
Although Rey Mysterio failed to capture the World Title at WWE TLC (PHOTOS), The Master of the 619 came up big on a first-ever live SmackDown on USA Network. With potent partner Kofi Kingston in his corner, the duo kept up an exciting offense, including an awesome double aerial assault from the top rope onto Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger outside the ring. To finish the tag team war, Kingston blasted Swagger with Trouble in Paradise, then The Ultimate Underdog finished off The All-American American with a splash from the top rope.

Drew McIntyre def. Kaval (WATCH | PHOTOS)
In commanding fashion, Drew McIntyre made quick work of Kaval, dropping him hard with a Future Shock DDT in a brief encounter that was over before it started.

Kane rejected World Heavyweight Champion Edge's challenge to a rematch (WATCH | PHOTOS)
All of new World Heavyweight Champion Edge’s mind games with Kane finally paid off when he captured his tenth World Championship at WWE TLC (PHOTOS). When Edge challenged Kane to a title rematch on SmackDown, The Big Red Monster says he will no longer play the game on Edge’s terms. Instead, the former champion declared that he will get back his title under his terms and when he is ready.

WWE Tag Team Champion Santino Marella def. Chavo Guerrero (WATCH | PHOTOS)
With a lethal Cobra strike, Santino Marella downed Chavo Guerrero. Just before the match, Santino attempted to get a kiss from old flame Beth Phoenix, but it was fellow WWE Tag Team Champion Vladimir Kozlovwho received a holiday kiss under the mistletoe (WATCH).

Big Show offered his rendition of "The Night Before Christmas" (WATCH | PHOTOS)
Despite breaking a chair with his crushing mass, Big Show’s spirit could not be dampened as he offered a big dose of holiday cheer with his version of a Christmas classic. But “Dashing” Cody Rhodes put the brakes on the fun by rushing into the ring, attackingHornswoggle and trashing the holiday decorations. The World’s Largest Athlete quickly came to the rescue, sending Rhodes back into the night.

Randy Orton def. WWE Champion The Miz by Disqualification (WATCH | PHOTOS)
Just like he did at WWE TLC, Alex Riley inserted himself into the action (WWE TLC photos). However on this night, Riley’s interference cost WWE Champion The Miz his match with The Viper. After the bout, with Miz still reeling from an RKO, The Viper was poised to punt his foe. When Riley tried to come to his aid, he too was met with a crushing RKO from WWE’s Apex Predator.