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

Valid 00Z Thu Jan 13 2022 - 00Z Sat Jan 15 2022

...Wintry mix from the Great Lakes to the Northeast, with more rain and
mountain snow for the Northwest...

...Seasonably mild and tranquil conditions Thursday across central and
southern portions of the country...

...Winter storm to bring heavy snow to the Northern Plains and Midwest
Thursday night and Friday...

The short-range forecast period (Wednesday Evening through Friday Evening)
begins with two storm systems bringing wintry precipitation to the Great
Lakes and Northeast, with rain and mountain snow for the Northwest.  A
series of waves of low pressure along a stationary front draped along the
U.S.-Canadian border from Maine southwest to the Great Lakes and into the
Midwest will bring snow showers to the region Wednesday night into
Thursday morning. The front will begin to meander further south during the
day Thursday, with a light wintry mix expanding down to the Ohio Valley
and Appalachians. A stronger cold front over Canada will sweep south
behind this front on Friday, bringing cooler temperatures and snow showers
to New England. In the Northwest, a Pacific storm system will approach the
coast late Wednesday evening with lower elevation rain and mountain snow
for the Cascades expected through Thursday Morning. The snow will expand
into the Northern Rockies Thursday and Thursday night. Forecast rain and
snow totals both look to remain on the lighter side. 

Meanwhile, most of the central and southern portions of the country will
seasonably mild and tranquil conditions south of the storm systems to the
north. Highs on Thursday will be above normal for most, with the greatest
anomalies centered over the Central and Southern Plains where 60s and 70s
will be common. Highs will range from the 40s and 50s in the Northeast and
Mid-Atlantic to the 60s in the Southeast, with 70s in the Southwest. A
series of cold fronts will bring temperatures down about 5-10 degrees and
closer to normal from the East Coast to the Central Plains Friday, while
Texas and the Southwest continue to see highs in the 70s.

Higher impact winter weather returns Thursday night into Friday for the
Northern Plains and Midwest as a strong storm system develops in the lee
of the Central Rockies and begins to track eastward. The snow will begin
first for the Northern Plains Thursday evening and quickly spread
southward to the Mid-Mississippi Valley by Friday morning. The heaviest
snow totals look to be centered from northeastern South Dakota
southeastward through southwestern Minnesota and into central Iowa, where
Winter Storm Watches are in effect. Storm total accumulations of 4-8
inches are likely, with locally higher amounts looking increasingly
possible. Gusty winds may also lead to periods of blowing snow. Areas in
the surrounding region from the Central Plains to the Ohio Valley will
also see a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and rain on Friday, transitioning to
all snow from north to south overnight Friday. 

Putnam


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