Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
301 PM EST Wed Feb 09 2022

Valid 00Z Thu Feb 10 2022 - 00Z Sat Feb 12 2022

...Early taste of spring across most of the continental U.S.; record
warmth in California; cold air spills into Upper Midwest/Great Lakes on
Friday...

...First in a pair of storm systems to produce snow showers across the
Great Lakes tonight...

...Heavier snowfall to come with the second storm system on Thursday
across the Upper Midwest/Great Lakes...

A strong dome of upper-level high pressure over the western third of the
country and a lack of a frigid Canadian air-mass will provide much of the
Lower 48 with an early taste of spring over the next couple of days.
Daytime highs are forecast to reach the 50s and 60s over much of the Great
Plains on Thursday while more March-like temperatures arrive in the
Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. The most anomalous warmth over the next couple
days is set to occur in the Northern Plains and along the West Coast. The
former will be warmest on Thursday when daily temperature departures range
between 15 to 25 degrees above normal from Montana and northern Wyoming to
the Dakotas. Meanwhile, this will be a daily occurrence on the West Coast
and more specifically California. Daytime highs in parts of Southern
California will be in the 80s through the weekend with highs near 90
degrees possible. Due to the unusually hot temperatures for early
February, Heat Advisories have been issued for Orange County and the
Inland Empire through the end of the week. Numerous record highs could be
broken not just in Southern California, but along the coast and throughout
the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys through Sunday. Florida will remain
cooler than normal and dry during this period.

The first of two storm systems will track across the Great Lakes and
Northeast through Thursday, but will only produce light precipitation. The
cold air spilling in behind this storm will trigger some areas of lake
effect snow showers, most notably in Michigan's U.P. and in western
portions of the state tonight. Some snow showers may also bring light
accumulations to the interior Northeast on Thursday as the storm passes
through. Meanwhile, the second and more potent wave of low pressure is hot
on its heels, racing into the Upper Midwest Thursday afternoon. Periods of
snow will blanket parts of northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and
northern Michigan in as much as 3 to 6 inches of snowfall. The trailing
cold front and upper level disturbance tracking south through Montana
delivers snow to parts of the Northern Rockies and High Plains Thursday
night and into Friday. High pressure will descend upon the Plains
beginning Friday night, sending the preceding cold front and frigid air
into the central and eastern portions of the country this weekend.

Kebede/Mullinax


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