Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
213 PM EST Wed Dec 27 2023

Valid 00Z Thu Dec 28 2023 - 00Z Sat Dec 30 2023

...Winter storm over the central U.S. continues to weaken and move east,
however areas of unsettled weather persist...

...Heavy rain and flooding expected for portions of the northern Mid
Atlantic and Northeast coasts tonight...

...Unsettled weather lingers near the West Coast for the next couple of
days...

...Below-average temperatures to shift across the southeastern U.S. later
this week...

The broad area of low pressure responsible for widespread winter impacts,
including blizzard conditions across portions of the Plains earlier this
week, will continue to gradually weaken and move east from the mid
Mississippi Valley to the Ohio Valley.  This will bring areas of mixed
precipitation from the mid Mississippi Valley though the Ohio Valley and
into the central and southern Appalachians over the next couple of days. 
Some heavier, but brief, snowfall may occur near the upper low as it
drifts across the mid Mississippi Valley this evening.  However, expect
most of the areas impacted to see only minor snow accumulations.

In the East, rain will continue to spread through the mid Atlantic and
Northeast.  A coastal low strengthening and tracking north along the
northern mid Atlantic and Northeast coasts is expected to help focus
heavier rains from the northern Delmarva to southern New York and New
England tonight into early Thursday.  These rains may produce excessive
runoff, resulting in the flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other
low-lying and flood-prone locations.  Onshore winds along with
astronomical high tide are expected to produce minor coastal flooding
along vulnerable waterfront and shoreline areas in the New York City metro.

With no cold air in place, this will be an all rain event for most of the
Northeast.  Maine is forecast to be exception, where the cold air behind a
slow-moving frontal boundary will support some mixed precipitation, with
light snow and icing expected.

Meanwhile, moisture well ahead of a couple of large Pacific cyclones is
forecast to produce unsettled weather along the West Coast for the next
couple of days. These systems will generate rain and high elevation snow
over the Pacific Northwest and California, while much of the reminder of
the western U.S. is forecast to remain dry.

Below-average temperatures are forecast follow a cold front moving from
the southern Plains and the lower Mississippi Valley today through the
Southeast later this week.  Elsewhere, temperatures are expected to remain
seasonal to above-average through the period. 

Pereira

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