Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
234 PM EST Mon Dec 19 2022

Valid 00Z Tue Dec 20 2022 - 00Z Thu Dec 22 2022

...Arctic air and dangerous wind chills to remain entrenched across the
Northern Plains over the next several days...
...Heavy snows likely across the Northern Rockies, Washington Cascades and
Olympic Range...
...Arctic air to surge southward Wednesday and Thursday into the Central
to Southern Plains and Upper to Middle Mississippi Valley along with
dangerous wind chills...
..Heavy rains possible along the Central to Eastern Gulf Coast...

A very active weather pattern on tap for the upcoming holiday week across
large portions of the nation.  The greatest impacts early in the week will
be across the northwestern quarter of the nation from the Northern Rockies
into the  Northern Plains.  Arctic air will remain entrenched over the
next two days across the Northern Plains where high temperatures will
remain below zero across much of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and
most of Minnesota and morning low temperatures will be in the -10s to -30
degree range.  In addition to the brutally cold temperatures, dangerous
wind chill values of 35 to 55 degrees below zero are possible into the end
of the week across these areas. Wind chill warnings and advisories are
currently in effect across these areas for most of the week.  In addition
to the cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills, heavy snows are also
possible along the arctic front as it sinks southward through the Northern
Rockies.  Heavy snows also likely from the Washington Cascades into the
Olympic Range.

This arctic air will begin to surge to the southeast on Wednesday and
Thursday across the Central and Southern Plains and into the Middle to
Upper Mississippi Valley.  Very large temperature changes likely in the
wake of this arctic front with temperatures 35 to 40 degrees colder
Thursday than on Wednesday across the Central Plains.  Similar to areas
farther to the north, dangerous wind chill values will spread southward
with this arctic air, with wind chill watches up across all of the Central
Plains into portions of the Southern Plains.

For at least the first half of this week, above average temperatures
expected across the southern and eastern U.S. before the upstream arctic
air spreads east by the end of the week.  Heavy rains are possible Monday
night into Tuesday across the Central to Eastern Gulf coastal regions as
an area of low pressure moves eastward across the northern to eastern Gulf
of Mexico.

Oravec


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