Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 301 PM EST Tue Jan 07 2025 Valid 00Z Wed Jan 08 2025 - 00Z Fri Jan 10 2025 ...Critical fire weather conditions and damaging downslope winds expected through Thursday across portions of Southern California with extremely critical fire weather likely for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties on Wednesday... ...A developing winter storm will produce snow, sleet, and freezing rain over portions of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas Wednesday night into Thursday... ...Moderate to heavy lake-effect snow downwind from the Great Lakes through Thursday... Strong high pressure will settle across the Great Basin and set the stage for the development of very strong Santa Ana winds over Southern California through Thursday. The combination of very strong downslope winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels will result in a significant risk of critical fire weather across parts of Southern California through Wednesday and Thursday. In fact, the Storm Prediction Center has outlined an extremely critical risk of fire weather for portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties on Wednesday, highlighting the potential for extreme fire weather behavior should ignitions occur. Additionally, damaging wind gusts of 50 to 80 mph are expected tonight into Wednesday with isolated gusts of 80 to 100 mph in the mountains and foothills. These winds have the potential to cause downed trees and power lines which could lead to widespread power outages. Snow, sleet, and freezing rain are becoming increasingly likely for portions of the southern Plains Wednesday night into Thursday as a winter storm begins to take shape. Arctic air to the north combined with developing low pressure along the Gulf Coast will lead to widespread wintry precipitation across the region, with snow favored from Texas, to Oklahoma, to Arkansas. Farther south, snow will transition to sleet and freezing rain as warmer air aloft overspreads below freezing temperatures at the surface. This system has the potential to produce significant impacts with hazardous driving conditions possible. As a result, Winter Storm Watches have already been issued to raise awareness to the growing wintry threat. The cold, Arctic air that will set the stage for significant wintry weather in the South will also be responsible for persistent lake-effect snow downwind of the Great Lakes and across portions of the central and northern Appalachians through Thursday. Lake-effect snowfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are expected, particularly downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Locally higher amounts over a foot are possible near and to the southwest of Syracuse, New York, which could lead to hazardous driving conditions. Miller Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php