Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
245 PM EST Mon Dec 25 2023

Valid 00Z Tue Dec 26 2023 - 00Z Thu Dec 28 2023

...Heavy snow, blizzard conditions, and freezing rain likely to continue
across portions of the north-central U.S. through Tuesday...

...Flooding rains are possible across portions of the southern and central
Appalachians...

...A wintry mix, including significant icing, is possible across parts of
the Northwest...

A significant winter storm will continue to impact a large portion of the
north-central U.S., with heavy snow, freezing rain, and strong winds
through Tuesday.  Widespread travel disruptions are likely across the
region.

Additional heavy snow accumulations are likely during the evening and
overnight hours into tomorrow across portions of the northern Plains, with
parts of western South Dakota likely to see an additional 8 to 12 inches.
Blizzard Warnings are in effect for parts of the Plains, where in addition
to the heavy snow, strong winds gusting as high as 60 mph in some
locations, will produce dangerous whiteout conditions.  

A wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain, with significant ice
accumulations is likely farther east.  Widespread ice accumulations of
0.10 to 0.25 inch, with locally heavier amounts, can be expected across
northeastern South Dakota and eastern North Dakota into far northwestern
Minnesota.  Power outages and tree damage are likely in areas that receive
significant icing.

By Tuesday night, the storm will gradually weaken, however a wintry mix is
likely to persist into Wednesday across portions of the northern Plains
and Upper Midwest.

East of the Mississippi, temperatures are expected to remain anomalously
warm through midweek.  Moisture spreading north from the Gulf of Mexico
will fuel widespread rains from the Southeast to the Great Lakes, with
thunderstorms possible across the Southeast and the southern Mid Atlantic
and Appalachians.  Areas of heavy rainfall, resulting in localized
flooding, are possible across portions of the southern Appalachians
tonight before extending into the central Appalachians tomorrow.

In the Northwest, a frontal system will continue to spread precipitation
east across the region and into the northern Rockies.  While high snow
levels are forecast to confine heavy snow accumulations to the higher
mountain peaks, a wintry mix resulting in accumulating ice can be expected
from the Cascade valleys eastward into the Columbia Basin.  Ice Storm
warnings are in effect for portions of upper Hood Valley and the South
Washington Cascades, where significant ice accumulations are likely.

Pereira

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