Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
233 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2025

Valid 12Z Sat Jan 11 2025 - 12Z Mon Jan 13 2025

...A return to dangerous fire weather concerns for southern California
beginning later today...

...Moderate to locally heavy snow for the parts of the northern to central
Rockies...

...Below average high temperatures for much of the lower 48 this weekend
after departure of southern Mid-Atlantic winter storm...

A significant winter storm that brought widespread impacts to much of the
South over the past couple of days will quickly move away from the East
Coast this morning, leaving light snow showers in its wake for the central
Appalachians and New England. High pressure and quieter weather will
settle into locations east of the Mississippi River through Sunday morning
but more rain is expected for the central Gulf Coast Sunday into Monday as
low pressure organizes in the Gulf of Mexico, sending anomalous moisture
northward. Temperatures will be cold today for the southern/southeastern
U.S. with high temperature departures running 10 to 20 degrees below
average. Below average temperatures will also extend into the Midwest,
Ohio Valley and Northeast but Maine will be close to average for
mid-January. Some moderation of the cold temperatures will occur for
Sunday for the South and East, except for New England which will be near
to above average.

Out West, an upper level trough will continue to advance eastward from the
central Rockies today with moderate to locally heavy snow showers
continuing through Saturday night for northern sections of the Great Basin
and northern/central Rockies in its wake via northwesterly to northerly
flow behind the upper trough axis. Snow will continue near a strong
frontal boundary in central Montana on Sunday but subside elsewhere across
much of the West. By Monday morning, localized snowfall accumulations of 1
to 2 feet are expected for portions of central and southern Montana into
the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming.

High Temperatures across the West will generally be below average this
weekend while temperatures along the West Coast remain near average
through the weekend. The exception to colder than average high
temperatures for the lower 48 will be in and around the Upper Great Lakes
which will lie on the warm side of low pressure tracking across the
north-central U.S. with colder air filtering into the region behind the
low on Monday.

In southern California, a return to heightened fire weather conditions
will return later today after a brief lull from Friday night. High
pressure will increase across the Great Basin today as a surge of colder
air moves into the region behind a cold front which is forecast to move
into Mexico Sunday morning. Gusty offshore winds along the coast of
southern California support a Critical Risk area for Saturday as
highlighted by the Storm Prediction Center, with these dangerous
conditions continuing into Monday.

Otto


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