Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 304 AM EST Sat Jan 04 2025 Valid 12Z Sat Jan 04 2025 - 12Z Mon Jan 06 2025 ...Heavy snow from the Central Plains to the Ohio Valley on Sunday; Heavy lake-effect snow downwind from Lake Ontario on Saturday... ...Moderate to heavy snow from the Northern High Plains to the Central Plains on Saturday; 0.25 inches of freezing rain over parts of the Middle Mississippi/Ohio Valley on Sunday... ...There is an Enhanced Risk (level 2/5) of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley on Sunday... On Saturday, low pressure over the Southern High Plains will move eastward to the Ohio Valley by Monday. The storm will create disruptive winter weather from Saturday to Monday. The major winter storm will bring significant disruptions to the Central Plains by late Saturday, spreading to the Ohio Valley on Sunday. Severe travel delays are likely, with the storm reaching the Mid-Atlantic by Sunday night into Monday. On Saturday, the storm will produce moderate to heavy snow from the Northern High Plains to the Central Plains. Moreover, widespread heavy snow will accompany the storm. Heavy snowfall is expected across areas from central Kansas to Ohio, especially along and north of Interstate 70, with a 60-90% chance of at least 8 inches of snow on Sunday. For some, this could be the heaviest snowfall in over a decade. Additionally, moderate to heavy snow will develop over parts of the northern Mid-Atlantic overnight Sunday into Monday. In addition, blizzard conditions will develop over the Central Plains. Wind gusts over 35 mph combined with heavy snow will create blizzard conditions by Sunday morning. Whiteout conditions will make travel extremely hazardous, with impassable roads and a high risk of motorists becoming stranded. Furthermore, significant icing/freezing rain for Middle Mississippi/Ohio Valleys. Sleet and freezing rain are expected from eastern Kansas and the Ozarks to the Ohio Valley. Dangerous travel is anticipated, with tree damage and power outages likely in areas with over a quarter-inch of ice accumulation. Overnight Sunday, the storm will produce additional icing in the Central Appalachians. On Sunday, as the front crosses the Southern Plains and moves into the Lower Mississippi Valley, severe thunderstorms will develop over parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley. Therefore, the SPC has issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley from Sunday through Monday morning. The hazards associated with these thunderstorms are frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gusts, hail, and a few tornadoes. Meanwhile, cold air moving over the Great Lakes and upper-level energy over the Great Lakes and Northeast will create heavy lake-effect snow downwind from Lake Ontario through Sunday morning. In addition, moderate lake-effect snow will develop downwind from the Upper Great Lakes and Lake Erie through Sunday morning. Furthermore, light upslope snow will develop over parts of the Central Appalachians on Saturday. On Sunday, the lake-effect snow will become light over most of the Lakes, while moderate to heavy snow will continue downwind from Lake Ontario. Light to moderate snow will develop over parts of the Northeast. Furthermore, weak onshore flow and multiple weakening fronts move onshore over the Northwest. The system will produce coastal rain and higher-elevation snow over parts of the Pacific Northwest and Northern California through Monday. Ziegenfelder Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php