Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
1230 PM EST Thu Nov 23 2023

Valid 00Z Fri Nov 24 2023 - 00Z Sun Nov 26 2023

...Heavy snow and gusty winds will foster hazardous travel conditions for
portions of the northern and central Rockies as well as the nearby High
Plains for the holiday weekend...

...Very cold air will drop down across the central Plains, with large
sections of the country expected to see below normal temperatures and dry
conditions this holiday weekend...

A storm system traversing the Intermountain West on this Thanksgiving Day
will gradually bring a swath of moderate to heavy snow for areas of the
northern and central Rockies over the next couple of days, and this will
also begin to spill out into portions of the High Plains going into the
remainder of the holiday weekend. As much as 6 to 12 inches of snow can be
expected across the High Plains with some of the higher terrain of the
Rockies likely to see accumulations of as much as 1 to 2 feet.

Coinciding with the heavy snowfall threat will also be much colder
temperatures and gusty winds, and especially across the central Plains, as
a strong area of high pressure drops down from Canada and across the
northern third of the country. Some parts of the central Plains will see
high temperatures as much as 15 to 25 degree below normal on Friday and
Saturday. A combination of the heavy snow, gusty winds, and very cold
temperatures will likely result in hazardous travel conditions with
reduced visibilities along with snow-covered and icy roads. Locally some
flash freeze conditions will be possible due to the expected rapid drop in
temperatures.

Meanwhile as the axis of cold high pressure continues to edge southward,
below normal temperatures will also filter down into much of the South and
the Eastern U.S. with high temperatures as much as 10 to 15 degrees below
normal heading through the remainder of the holiday weekend.

There is not expected to be much in the way of rainfall across the country
over the next few days, with the only exceptions being parts of the
immediate Gulf Coast and across the Florida Peninsula where some light
rain and shower activity will be possible. Therefore, outside of the areas
where snow is expected over the Rockies and High Plains, the remainder of
the country should generally be dry going through the holiday weekend.

Orrison


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