Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 353 PM EST Fri Dec 04 2020 Valid 00Z Sat Dec 05 2020 - 00Z Mon Dec 07 2020 ..Significant Winter Storm for New England as rapidly-intensifying Nor'easter moves from the Mid-Atlantic to New England; heavy snow possible across portions of New England... ...There is a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of Coastal North Carolina... ...Critical Fire Weather risk along the Coastal Ranges of Southern California today, Air Stagnation Advisories in the Northwest... A significant winter storm will develop over New England as the rapidly-intensifying Nor'easter moves from the Mid-Atlantic to New England on Saturday into Sunday. The storm will produce heavy snow across portions of the Northeast on Saturday and Sunday. The snowfall totals will be 12-18 inches locally higher for interior NH and Maine, and 6-12 inches for central Massachusetts and, just inland of I-95, from eastern Massachusetts to the central Maine coast. There is the potential for heavy snow extending south from central Massachusetts into CT. The system will start as an area of low pressure over the Southern Appalachians on Friday evening, which will move northward along the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast Coast, advancing to the Canadian Maritimes by Sunday evening. The SPC has issued a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of North Carolina through Saturday morning. The significant hazards associated with severe thunderstorms are frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gust, and a couple of tornadoes. The storm will produce periods of heavy rain over parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Coast. In addition to the rain, the wind speed will increase, with the strongest wind felt along the New England Coast, where high surf, coastal flooding, and beach erosion are possible. Elsewhere, weather throughout the Western United States will remain relatively quiet due to an expansive area of high pressure. The lone exception is Southern California, where gusty offshore winds will to continue across the region. These winds, combined with dry air, will allow for any wildfires to spread rapidly. The SPC has issued a Critical Fire Weather area from the San Diego County Mountains northward to the higher elevations of eastern Ventura and western Los Angeles counties. Elevated Fire Weather conditions are likely to persist in these areas on Saturday. Red Flag Warnings and Wind Advisories are also issued for much of Southern California. Much of the Northwest is under Air Stagnation Advisories through Sunday due to the large dome of high-pressure overhead and poor air quality at low levels. Ziegenfelder Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php