Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 300 PM EST Thu Dec 05 2024 Valid 00Z Fri Dec 06 2024 - 00Z Sun Dec 08 2024 ...Heavy lake-enhanced/lake-effect snow downwind from Lakes Erie and Ontario post frontal passage ... ... A reinforcing Arctic air mass is overtaking the eastern U.S. and windy conditions bring hazardous wind chills ... ...Generally dry and above average temperatures across the Western and Central U.S. ... Breezy and blustery conditions are ongoing across much of the eastern U.S. behind the cold front passage this afternoon. Temperatures behind the front are rather chilly with highs in the low 20s to middle 30s. In tandem with the wind and cold, hazardous winter weather is possible across much of Great Lake region, New England, and the Appalachians. Across Michigan, there are multiple counties under Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories, upstate New York has counties under Winter Weather Warnings through Friday with heavy lake effect snow and strong winds, and western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania have numerous warnings, including Winter Storm Warnings, Lake Effect Snow Warning, and even a Blizzard Warning for Erie into Friday as well. The expected lake effect snowfall amounts are around 1-2 feet in susceptible lake effect areas where banding trains; additionally, strong winds behind the front will continue to create low visilibilites with blowing snow to create dangerous travel conditions. The Appalachians and interior New England have a 60-80 percent chance of seeing a foot of snowfall fall before the event winds down in the next day or two. The cold weather conditions should get attention as a hazard behind this Arctic front. Wind chills may fall into the negative teens across the mountains of the Applachains from West Virginia to New Hampshire with valleys seeing wind chills in the single digits and teens across much of the east. Cold Weather Advisories are active across the Alleghnies mountain range in the Appalachains. Into Saturday, actual low temperatures will be in the 20s and teens. Dress warm, look out for vulnerable populations, and seek warm weather shelters if needed. Much of the western U.S. is seasonably warm and dry as high pressure dominates the region. High temperatures will be in the 80s across the Southwest and 70s and 60s will prevail from southern California to the Pacific Northwest. Temperatures are in general about 5-10 degrees above average. The bigger warm-up will be over the central U.S. as high pressure shifts eastward and displaces the Arctic air over the region. Temperatures will be in the 50s and 60s from Oklahoma to Montana by Saturday, which is about 20 degrees above average for this time of the year. For the remainder of the U.S., much of Texas and the central Gulf Coast can expect rain showers into the weekend from a weak area of low pressure forming and lifting northwards along a front draped in the Gulf of Mexico. Rain showers and some high elevation snow will return to Washington State and Oregon by Saturaday as the next front moves through. Lastly, some areas in the Great Lakes may see addiitonal snowfall and/or cold rain showers as another clipper system moves in this weekend and helps reinforce this troughing/cold pattern for at least a few more days. Wilder Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php