Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
308 AM EST Wed Jan 12 2022

Valid 12Z Wed Jan 12 2022 - 12Z Fri Jan 14 2022

...Moderate to heavy rain continues across parts of western Washington
today...

...Canadian storm system to bring accumulating snowfall to the Northern
Plains Thursday night into Friday...

The wettest conditions over the next couple days continue to reside in the
waterlogged Pacific Northwest. Additional rounds of heavy precipitation
(primarily in the form of rain) are expected to persist over western
Washington into early this afternoon. This is due to an area of low
pressure over the eastern Pacific Ocean that is funneling a stream of
moisture into the Olympic Peninsula and Washington Cascades today. This
atmospheric river containing warm/moist air will lift freezing levels
above 7000 feet, which results in heavy rain falling across even some of
the highest terrain. Additional rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are
likely along upslope portions of the Olympic Peninsula, where recent heavy
rainfall has already fostered overly saturated antecedent soil moisture
conditions. Heavy rain is also expected to reach the Washington Cascades
and may produce flooding along rivers that flow off the high terrain. A
Marginal Risk of Excessive Rainfall, as well as Flood Watches, have been
issued across this region today. This system is forecast to weaken and
move inland over the Pacific Northwest on Thursday, resulting in a much
drier end to the workweek.

Looking ahead to Thursday night, a strengthening surface low emerging out
of the Canadian Prairies dives south into the North Central U.S. Thursday
night and into Friday. This next storm system is primed to produce heavy
snow and will result in treacherous travel conditions across parts of the
Northern Plains and Midwest to close out the work-week. Residents in these
areas should continue to closely monitor the forecast the next couple days
for the latest information.

As high pressure slides off the East Coast today, southerly flow will
bring warming temperatures to the region through Thursday. In the Nation's
Heartland, temperatures will remain seasonally warm with widespread 50s
and 60s in the High Plains today. By Thursday, high temps in South Texas
are expected to soar into the 70s. Meanwhile, a passing frontal boundary
will trigger scattered rain and snow showers through Thursday across the
Great Lakes and points east to the Northeast and central Appalachians,
with areas of light snow accumulations possible. Farther south, scattered
showers and thunderstorms will remain possible over southeast Florida
today.

Snell


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