Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
255 AM EST Tue Feb 08 2022

Valid 12Z Tue Feb 08 2022 - 12Z Thu Feb 10 2022

...Early taste of spring for much of the continental U.S. by midweek;
record warmth possible in California; Critical Risk of fire weather in the
Central Plains...

...Coastal storm to generate periods of snow across central and northern
Maine today, a damp and cloudy Tuesday on tap in Florida...

...A new storm system to produce a mix of rain and snow showers from the
Upper Midwest to the Great Lakes by midweek...

Much of the Lower 48 is expected to enjoy tranquil weather conditions
through the middle of the week thanks in part to a strong dome of high
pressure in the West. This is also where some of the warmest temperature
anomalies through the middle of the work week is expected to transpire.
High temperature anomalies for Tuesday will be between 10 to 20 degrees
above normal for much of California and southern Oregon. By Wednesday, the
immediate coastal areas of California warm up even further with highs
climbing into the mid-upper 80s in parts of Southern California. In
advance of this anomalous February heat, an Excessive Heat Watch that
includes the Los Angeles metro area has been issued from late Wednesday
into Friday. The West Coast is not the only region expected to see
temperatures resembling more like spring rather than winter. A large
subset of the Nation's Heartland can expect March-like temperatures today
with daytime max temperature anomalies as high as 25 degrees above normal.
Gusty winds and dry fuels in portions of the Central Plains today have
prompted the Storm Prediction Center to issue a Critical Risk for
northwest Kansas, southwest Nebraska, and far northeast Colorado. A weak
cold front passing through will help to tone down temperatures to an
extent on Wednesday, but milder than normal conditions for early February
persists. Even much of the East will witness high temps reach more
March-like levels with 50s in the forecast for parts of the Mid-Atlantic.

Precipitation-wise, a strengthening coastal storm is bringing wet weather
to coastal Maine while snow falls heavily at times in central and northern
Maine. Over 6 inches of snow is possible in northern Maine with some
locations potentially receiving close to a foot. The storm is forecast to
track into eastern Canada late Tuesday night and drier conditions return
by Wednesday. Farther south, "The Sunshine State" will have a tough time
living up to its nickname today as most of the state contends with
widespread showers and plenty of cloud cover. Drier conditions and
sunshine returns to Florida by Wednesday. Elsewhere, a wave of low
pressure is set to track through southern Canada today and end up in the
Upper Great Lakes by Wednesday. Not much in the way of precipitation is
expected today, but periods of snow are likely in northern Minnesota and
Wisconsin Tuesday night. By Wednesday, rain and snow showers will envelope
much of the Great Lakes with the heaviest snowfall accumulations confined
to areas along the northern coast of Michigan's Upper Peninsula where
there will be a little more lake enhancement. Some rain and snow showers
may make their way into the northern Mid-Atlantic and interior Northeast
Wednesday night. Lastly, an upper level disturbance diving south through
the northern High Plains on Wednesday will produce periods of snow in the
Black Hills and central Rockies.

Mullinax


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