Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
234 AM EST Thu Dec 04 2025

Valid 12Z Thu Dec 04 2025 - 12Z Sat Dec 06 2025

...Active winter weather pattern continues with snow impacting the Great
Lakes, interior Northeast, and Pacific Northwest/Rockies the next couple
of days...

...Moderate to heavy rainfall for the Gulf Coast with isolated flash
flooding possible; some wintry precipitation expected north into the
Appalachians/Mid-Atlantic Friday...

...Surge of arctic air forecast to challenge low temperature records
across the Midwest Thursday and the northern Mid-Atlantic to New England
Friday...

An active winter-like pattern continues across the country with systems
bringing snow to multiple places over the next couple of days. First,
lake-enhanced snow showers will continue for portions of the Great Lakes
following the passage of one clipper-like system this morning and as
another quickly approaches the region on Friday. Some moderate snow
accumulations will focus downwind of the Upper Great Lakes and Lake
Ontario. Light snow showers will also be possible across the northern
Plains today as this incoming second system passes through. Meanwhile, the
departing clipper system and trailing cold front is expected to lead to a
potentially impactful snow squall event today over the interior Northeast.
These intense, quick bursts of heavy snow accompanied by gusty surface
winds can bring sudden white-out conditions, which is particularly
dangerous to those driving. 

To the west, a series of upper-waves dropping southward over the western
U.S. will bring significant snowfall to the Cascades and ranges of the
northern Rockies today, spreading into the central Rockies Friday. Winter
Storm Watches have been issued for snowfall totals generally between
8-14", with higher amounts upwards of 2-3' possible for the higher
mountain peaks. The mountain valleys will see between 3-6". While
accumulations should mainly remain limited to the mountains, a wintry mix
is expected for adjacent areas of the northern/central Great Basin and
northern High Plains, with rain for the Pacific Northwest.

Moist southerly flow ahead of an upper-wave approaching the southern
Plains/western Gulf has led to an expanding area of precipiation across
the region this morning. Thunderstorms will focus in vicinity of a
quasi-stationary frontal boundary along the western to central Gulf Coast
with more moderate showers further inland. The system will progress
eastward into the Southeast overnight Thursday and into the day Friday,
with thunderstorm chances lingering to the west along the Gulf Coast. Some
locally heavy rainfall will be possible with an isolated threat for flash
flooding. Wintry precipiation is expected where colder air in place
further to the north, first over portions of the southern Plains this
morning/afternoon, and then eastward from the Ohio Valley into the
central/southern Appalachians and North Carolina/southern Mid-Atlantic
overnight Thursday and into the day Friday. Winter Weather Advisories are
in place for potential snow accumulations of 1-2" as well as a light
glazing of ice.

Conditions remain well below average across much of the eastern and
central U.S. as this winter-like pattern remains in place. Yet another
cold front passage will bring some brutally cold low temperatures to
portions of the Midwest this morning, and then into the northern
Mid-Atlantic and New England Friday morning. Low temperatures in the
negative single digits and teens for the Midwest and single digits and
teens for the northern Mid-Atlantic/New England may challenge several
daily record low temperatures. Forecast highs the next couple days will
vary depending on the timing of frontal passages, but generally range in
the teens to 20s for the Midwest, the 20s and 30s for New England, the 30s
and 40s for the central/southern Plains east through the Ohio Valley to
the Mid-Atlantic, and the 40s and 50s for Texas to the Southeast. The High
Plains will see a return to average if not a bit above average conditions
with downsloping winds off the Rockies in place, with highs into the 30s
and 40s north and 50s and 60s south. Conditions will also remain around or
above average for most of the West, with 40s for the interior, 50s and 60s
along the West Coast, and 60s and 70s for the Desert Southwest. The Four
Corners region will see some locally cooler temperatures with highs in the
30s and 40s.

Putnam




Graphics available at
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php