Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 242 PM EST Mon Jan 25 2021 Valid 00Z Tue Jan 26 2021 - 00Z Thu Jan 28 2021 ...Heavy snow likely across higher elevations of the Southwest, as well as portions of the central Plains and Midwest through Tuesday... ...Light snow to impact parts of the northern Mid-Atlantic and Northeast between tonight and Tuesday, dangerous amounts of ice/freezing rain possible in the central Appalachians... ...Heavy lower elevation rain to move into northern/central California Tuesday night along with extreme snowfall amounts across the Sierra Nevada... There is plenty of weather to discuss over the next few days with multiple storm systems bringing impactful winter weather to much of the United States. Starting with the central U.S., an area of low pressure currently moving out of the southern Plains and into the Midwest is forecast to produce a swath of heavy snow from the central Plains to Lower Michigan. Over a foot of snow could fall across southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa, this includes Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska. Further east, light snow will spread into the northern Mid-Atlantic and Northeast tonight, where only a few inches of snow are expected by the time the precipitation ends on Wednesday. Meanwhile, significant and potentially dangerous ice accretion is possible across the central Appalachians as freeing rain is expected to be the main precipitation type tonight. Up to a half inch of ice accretion is possible here, with lighter amounts across the Ohio Valley and northern Mid-Atlantic. Winter Weather Advisories and Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for the impacted regions. Across the Southwest a separate system is currently bringing heavy snow to the higher elevations of Arizona and Utah. Snowfall amounts greater than a foot in most locations will create dangerous travel conditions. This storm system is then forecast to enter the central Plains by Wednesday morning and race toward the southern Appalachians by late in the day on Wednesday. Light snow can be expected from the central Plains to the lower Ohio Valley. Moderate snowfall amounts up to 6 inches will be possible Wednesday night across the southern Appalachians. Not to be outdone, a major winter weather event is on the way for northern and central California by Tuesday evening. Heavy lower elevation rain, mountain snow, and gusty winds will overspread the region Tuesday night and much of the day on Wednesday. Snow levels across northern California are forecast to start as low as 500 to 2500 feet, before slowly rising Wednesday. Meanwhile, flash flooding and debris flows from nearby burn scars will be a concern on Wednesday along the central California coastline as upwards of 7 to 10 inches of rain could fall. Higher up in elevation, whiteout conditions due to extremely heavy snowfall rates are possible across the Sierra Nevada. Several feet of snow will add up through Wednesday night, with road closures and travel delays likely. Snell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php