Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
304 AM EST Tue Jan 27 2015

Valid 12Z Tue Jan 27 2015 - 12Z Thu Jan 29 2015

...Powerful winter storm to continue impacting the Northeast...

...Well above normal temperatures to prevail over the Central U.S...


An ongoing winter storm is affecting much of the northeastern states with
the most significant impacts from coastal New Jersey up to the Canadian
border. The current National Weather Service hazards show winter storm
warnings in effect over the affected area with blizzard warnings along the
immediate coastline. While the exact impacts vary based on location, the
overall effect consists of periods of moderate to heavy snow along with
gusty winds. In particular, locations from southeastern New York and Long
Island up into New England will likely be measuring the snow in feet.
Observed mesoscale bands have been producing 2 to 3 inches of snow per
hour across sections of Long Island early this morning. Expect additional
smaller-scale snow bands to develop as the system continues to churn up
the northeastern U.S. coast. Overall, the current forecast suggests
snowfall amounts may approach or even exceed 2 feet from eastern
Massachusetts northward along the Maine coast. Additionally, blizzard
conditions are possible along the coast given wind gusts reaching the 40
to 70 mile per hour range at times. As a whole, this storm should begin to
wind down by Wednesday evening as a surface ridge builds over the region.

Persistent downsloping flow in the lee of the Rocky Mountain chain will
provide ample warmth to the Great Plains. The forecast temperature
anomalies suggest readings ranging from 25 to 35 degrees above normal. On
Tuesday, the expected high temperatures across the Central Plains are in
the low to mid 70s. Records have already been broken across the Plains
this week with Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City reporting 77 degrees
on Monday relative to the previous record of 71 degrees. Expect additional
records to be broken given such warm temperature anomalies in place.

A closed upper low previously over the subtropical East Pacific has
evolved into an open wave while lifting into southern California. This has
spread a broad region of light to moderate rain to the Desert Southwest
which is well needed given the persistent drought concerns. Throughout the
period, expect this shield of precipitation to advance north and east
spreading rainfall into the Central Great Basin and eventually into the
Central Rockies. The subtropical origin of the system should keep much of
the region as rain except for the higher elevations of the Wyoming Tetons
and sections of Wasatch.

Elsewhere, an arctic boundary sinking southward from central Canada will
spread a band of light to moderate snow to the Upper Midwest/Great Lakes
region where 2 to 4 inches is expected Wednesday afternoon into the
following day.


Rubin-Oster


Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php