Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 217 PM EST Sat Jan 18 2014 Valid 00Z Sun Jan 19 2014 - 00Z Tue Jan 21 2014 ***A highly amplified weather pattern will continue*** ***Very cold air and periods of light snow will impact the Ohio Valley, Great Lakes and Northeast*** ***Unusually dry and very warm conditions will continue across much of the Western United States*** There are no changes expected to the prevailing weather pattern across the country over the next few days. A strong upper level ridge across the West will persist, as a large scale trough dominates and becomes reinforced over the much of the eastern half of the country. The reinforcement of this trough over the East will be aided by the arrival and passage of a couple of fast-moving Alberta clippers. These waves of low pressure will be responsible for a swath of generally light snow across the Ohio Valley and parts of the Northeast given their progressive nature and a distinct lack of moisture for these systems to work with. In the wake of each system, there will be a resurgence of arctic air south from Canada, and with this air overrunning the Great Lakes region, there will continue to be periods of lake effect snow shower activity. In general, this pattern will continue to favor below normal temperatures for the northern and eastern U.S. Along the West Coast and into the Great Basin, the theme continues to be mild temperatures but also very dry conditions, which continues to aggravate and worsen drought conditions. The situation continues to be particularly critical for California and adjacent areas of the Southwest where very warm Santa-Ana winds will persist and should actually intensify early next week. Consequently, the threat of wildfires which is already elevated, will likely increase further as these stronger and drier winds materialize across the region. Temperatures across the West and especially over the Southwest will remain above to much above normal. Orrison Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php