Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
300 AM EST Sat Dec 30 2023

Valid 12Z Sat Dec 30 2023 - 12Z Mon Jan 01 2024

...Moderate to locally heavy rainfall continues for the West Coast
Saturday; accumulating snowfall for the Sierras...

...Light wintry mix forecast for New England, the Appalachians, and
portions of the Midwest...

...Cooler temperatures and chilly morning lows for the Southeast...

An amplified upper-level trough and surface frontal system pushing onshore
along the West Coast will continue to bring some moderate to locally heavy
rainfall Saturday, with the highest amounts expected along the coast.
Higher elevations in the Sierra, generally above 6500 feet, will see
additional snow accumulations of 2-6", locally above a foot. Some light
accumulations are also expected for higher elevations of the San
Bernardino and Riverside County mountains. A light wintry mix is possible
into portions of the Great Basin. Precipitation should come to an end for
the Pacific Northwest and northern California by Sunday morning but will
continue for southern California as another Pacific system approaches. In
addition, high surf and coastal flooding will remain a threat along the
central California coast through Saturday afternoon and southern
California through New Year's Day as this second system approaches.
Forecast high temperatures across the West will generally be above
average, with 40s for the Rockies and Great Basin, 50s for the Pacific
Northwest, 50s and 60s for California, and 60s and 70s for the Desert
Southwest.

A light wintry mix is expected for portions of New England Saturday with a
frontal system draped through the region, as well as southwestward through
the Appalachians as an upper-level low lingers overhead. Any accumulations
should remain limited, with perhaps an inch or so, most likely for
portions of northern Maine and the central Appalachians. To the west, a
clipper system dropping through the Upper Midwest will also bring a light
wintry mix Saturday, spreading southeastward through the Great Lakes and
into the Upper Ohio Valley/central Appalachians Sunday. Any accumulations
here should also remain limited to a dusting to 1". Forecast high
temperatures across the region range in the 30s and 40s.

Highs will remain below average Saturday for much of the Southeast
following a frontal passage and as the aforementioned upper low passes
overhead. Highs will mainly be in the 40s and low 50s inland, with mid- to
upper 50s along the northern Gulf Coast and north Florida, and 60s for
central and south Florida. Morning lows will drop to near or below
freezing for inland locations Sunday morning, and also for the Florida
Panhandle into north Florida. A Freeze Watch has been issued for portions
of southern Georgia and north Florida where sensitive vegetation may be
damaged or destroyed. Temperatures will rebound Sunday as the upper low
departs to the east, with highs into the upper 50s and 60s.

Elsewhere, conditions will be dry for the Plains, with generally above
average temperatures Saturday. Forecast highs range in the 20s and 30s for
the northern Plains, 40s and 50s for the central Plains, and 50s and 60s
for the Southern Plains, with some 70s possible for south Texas. A cold
front will bring some cooler temperatures to the central Plains Sunday,
with highs only reaching into the 30s.

Putnam


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