Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
312 PM EST Wed Dec 17 2025

Valid 00Z Thu Dec 18 2025 - 00Z Sat Dec 20 2025

...Dangerous wind gusts and heavy snow to produce hazardous travel and
infrastructure impacts from the Northwest to North-Central U.S....

...Heavy rain likely over portions of the Pacific Northwest beginning
Thursday while heavy snow continues for the mountains of the Pacific
Northwest and northern Rockies...

...Above average temperatures across most of the country to end the week
with numerous possible record-tying/breaking highs in the western U.S. as
well as New England...

A quick moving upper-trough accompanied by a deep surface low
pressure/frontal system will bring heavy snow to the mountains as well as
widespread significant winds and blizzard conditions from the interior
Pacific Northwest/Great Basin east through the north/central Rockies and
into the northern/central Plains through Thursday. Dangerous and
destructive winds as high as 50-70 mph are expected, with gusts exceeding
80 mph downwind of high elevation areas. Expect numerous power outages,
property damage, and dangerous travel for high-profile vehicles.
Additionally, while accumulations will generally remain light to moderate,
the high winds and cold front passage across the northern Plains will
bring the threat of snow squalls and blizzard conditions. Heavy mountain
snow will also continue for the Cascades and northern Rockies, with totals
as much as 1-3 feet possible. Power outages and tree damage are possible
due to the combination of heavy wet snow and wind on trees and power
lines.

Moist Gulf return flow ahead of the system as it continues east will bring
increasingly widespread showers and thunderstorms first to the Midwest and
Southeast during the day Thursday and eventually to the East Coast late
Thursday and into Friday morning. Rainfall will generally be light to
moderate, though some locally heavier totals will be possible across
portions of the northern Mid-Atlantic and New England Friday as strong
southerly flow off the Atlantic helps to enhance rainfall totals, with an
isolated threat for some flooding. The rain should clear the coast by
Friday evening. Some gusty winds will also be possible, particularly
closer to the coast. Post-frontal snow showers will remain possible for
favorable down-wind locations of the Great Lakes into Friday night. 

Meanwhile, to the west, yet another Pacific system/Atmospheric River event
is expected to approach the Pacific Northwest/far northern California
Thursday. The most significant heavy rainfall for this system is expected
to first focus across western Oregon, including for areas east of the
Cascades that typically don't see as heavy precipitation during similar
events. The heavy rainfall will gradually shift southward towards far
northern California into Friday. Slight Risks of Excessive Rainfall (level
2/4) are in effect for both days as rainfall totals of several inches will
bring the threat of some scattered instances of flooding. Moisture
accompanying the system as it moves inland will also bring additional
heavy snow to the higher elevations of the Cascades as well as ranges of
the northern Rockies.

Most of the country will see well to well above average temperatures to
end the week and into the weekend, including areas of the eastern U.S., as
the pattern remains more progressive and less-amplified than the last few
weeks. Forecast highs generally range from the 40s and 50s along the
northern tier, 50s and 60s for more central locations across the Plains,
into the Ohio/Tennessee Valley, and Mid-Atlantic, and 60s and 70s for
southern locations. A handful of record-tying/breaking highs will be
possible across portions of the Great Basin and Desert Southwest Thursday
before much more numerous possible records are expected Friday across the
West and into the High Plains, as well as in New England. One brief
exception will be following the cold front dropping from the north-central
to eastern U.S. Temperatures will plunge into the single digits and teens
for the northern Plains Thursday and gusty winds will bring some
dangerously cold wind chills Thursday/Friday mornings. Highs will fall
into the 20s and 30s for the Midwest and 40s and 50s into the Southeast
Friday. Conditions will recover quickly the following day in the
progressive pattern, however. 

Putnam


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