Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
254 PM EST Mon Jan 03 2022

Valid 00Z Tue Jan 04 2022 - 00Z Thu Jan 06 2022

...Multiple rounds of heavy snow forecast across the Northwest and
Northern Rockies through midweek, with heavy rain and flooding possible
along coastal regions of Oregon and Washington...

...Potent low pressure system to enter the Northern Plains and Upper
Midwest on Tuesday, with gusty winds found across the Plains and
light-to-moderate snow located throughout the Upper Midwest and Great
Lakes into the day on Wednesday...

...Next system to enter the Central High Plains on Wednesday will spread
potentially heavy snow across portions of eastern Wyoming and western
Nebraska...

An active and wintry weather pattern will continue to impact much of the
Northwest and Northern Rockies as prevalent onshore flow from the eastern
Pacific and two separate impulses of upper level energy traverse this part
of the Nation. The first system is currently entering the interior
Northwest and will spread snow eastward into the Northern Rockies by
Tuesday morning. By Tuesday afternoon, a separate wave of low pressure and
associated moisture surge will enter southwestern Oregon. Heavy coastal
rain is possible and may lead to isolated instances of flooding from
southwest Oregon to the far northern California coastline. Widespread
total snowfall amounts over a foot are likely through Wednesday evening
across the Cascades and high terrain of the Northern Great Basin and
Northern Rockies, which will add onto an already healthy snowpack. Winter
Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect.

Snow is also expected to spread east of the Rockies and into parts of the
Plains and Upper Midwest/Great Lakes over the next few days. The
aforementioned low pressure system spreading across the Northwest today
will enter the Northern Plains on Tuesday. As it does so, gusty winds up
to 65 mph can be expected throughout the Central High Plains. Meanwhile,
light to moderate snowfall will be found to the north of the low on
Tuesday and Wednesday while extending from eastern North Dakota to the
Upper Great Lakes. Gusty winds and higher snow totals could make driving
treacherous throughout far northern Wisconsin and the U.P. of Michigan
from late Tuesday night into Wednesday. Thus, Winter Storm Watches have
been issued here.

An additional system to track for potential winter weather hazards is
forecast to reach the Central High Plains by Wednesday. A well-defined
quasi-stationary boundary will focus a possibly heavy band of snow from
southeast Wyoming to western Nebraska through Wednesday night before
weakening and shifting into the Central Plains. Snowfall totals could top
6 inches within the heaviest axis. Meanwhile, on the cold side of this
boundary an arctic airmass is forecast to enter the north-central United
States. Subzero low temperatures are expected throughout the Dakotas and
Montana on Wednesday, with single digit temperatures reaching into the
Upper Midwest as well.

Elsewhere, a winter storm is currently winding down along the coastal
Mi-Atlantic and will completely come to an end early this evening.
Temperatures will drop well below freezing tonight across the Mid-Atlantic
states, therefore any melted snow will quickly refreeze on roadways and
sidewalks. For the Southern High Plains, gusty winds and low relative
humidity may lead to Critical Fire Weather on Tuesday from east-central
New Mexico into the Texas Panhandle.

Snell

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