Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
247 AM EST Thu Jan 13 2022

Valid 12Z Thu Jan 13 2022 - 12Z Sat Jan 15 2022

...Quick hitting winter storm to produce a swath of heavy snow across
parts of the Northern Plains and Midwest...

...Temperatures plunge behind an arctic cold front pushing through the
Northeast by the end of the week and could lead to dangerous wind chills
into Saturday morning...

For the most part, today will feature tranquil weather across much of the
Lower 48 with light precipitation confined to the Pacific Northwest, Great
Lakes, and Northern New England. However, by late tonight a strong storm
system diving southward out of south-central Canada will create hazardous
weather conditions into the Northern Plains and eventually into the
middle/lower Missouri Valley. Conditions are expected to rapidly
deteriorate across parts of North Dakota tonight, before snow shifts into
eastern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota on Friday morning. Widespread
snowfall totals greater than 4 inches are likely, with over 8 inches
possible from southeast North Dakota to central Iowa. The associated area
of low pressure will be fast-moving and enter the Central Plains by Friday
night, shifting the swath of heavy snow into Iowa during the day on Friday
and northern Missouri by Saturday morning. Difficult driving conditions
are likely throughout this region as roads become snow covered. Visibility
will also be greatly reduced within heavy snowbands with rates up to 1"/hr
and during periods of gusty winds. Speaking of gusty winds, high winds are
likely throughout the High Plains as an associated cold front races down
the Plains on Friday. Gusts up to 60 mph are possible, which has prompted
High Wind Watches to be issued across western South Dakota.

Farther east, a very strong and rapidly strengthening storm system in the
eastern Atlantic Ocean will skim past New England on Friday. Gusty winds
and rough surf will be felt along coastal New England, with light snow
potentially reaching into Interior Downeast Maine and Cape Cod. This
system will help drag an arctic cold front out of Canada and into the
Northeast on Friday as well, setting the stage for a bitter cold night and
start to the weekend. Temperatures are forecast to drop into the single
digits and below zero for much of New England on Saturday morning, with
wind chills making it feel even colder. For interior sections of the
Northeast, wind chills well below zero could cause frostbite on exposed
skin in a matter of minutes. Residents should plan ahead and dress
properly, including a hat and gloves. This frigid airmass will also sink
into the northern Mid-Atlantic, where Saturday will start out in the teens
and low 20s.

Otherwise, warm and dry weather is forecast through Friday across the
Southern Plains ahead of the approaching cold front. Quiet conditions will
also be experienced throughout the Southeast, Tennessee Valley, and Gulf
Coast States before the aforementioned winter storm impacts the region
this weekend.

Snell


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