Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 300 PM EST Thu Jan 09 2025 Valid 00Z Fri Jan 10 2025 - 00Z Sun Jan 12 2025 ...A significant winter storm will continue to bring heavy snow and disruptive ice across much of the South through Saturday... ...Critical fire weather conditions ramp up again across the Southern California Coast this afternoon and linger through Friday morning... ...A fast-moving Pacific Storm is set to bring coastal rains and mountain snows to much of the Pacific Northwest on Friday before racing across the Northern Rockies and Upper Midwest on Saturday... Arctic air combined with a moisture-laden area of low pressure will set the stage for a significant winter storm across a large portion of the South through Saturday. A swath of heavy snow will stretch from parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas, to the Mid-South, to the southern Appalachians over the next couple of days. Widespread snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches are expected, with the highest amounts focused over Oklahoma and Arkansas. Farther south, across portions of northeast Texas, southern Arkansas, and parts of the Southeast, snow transitions to sleet and freezing rain as warmer air aloft overspreads sub-freezing temperatures at the surface. Freezing rain will lead to icy conditions, with a tenth up to a quarter inch of ice expected. The snow, sleet, and freezing rain will result in hazardous travel for many. In fact, nearly 50 million people are currently under a Winter Storm Warning. The storm will quickly move along the Gulf Coast through Friday before exiting the East Coast off the Carolinas on Saturday. Prior to the storm's departure, light snow with generally minor impacts will overspread portions of the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast with accumulations ranging from 1 to 3 inches. After a brief reprieve from dangerous fire weather conditions across the Southern California Coast, critical fire weather will ramp up again as strong Santa Ana winds strengthen once again. While winds won't be nearly as strong as the past few days, terrain induced winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 40 to 60 mph will still be strong enough to be of concern. Combined with low relative humidity and dry fuels, the potential exists for ongoing fires to worsen and new ignitions to rapidly spread. Dangerous conditions are expected to continue tonight before waning Friday morning. A fast-moving Pacific storm is expected to race across the Pacific Northwest, the northern Rockies and the Upper Midwest Friday into Saturday. This storm will bring rain to coastal locations and widespread snow to the mountains. Significant accumulations are expected for the highest elevations in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies before transitioning to lighter snows across the Upper Midwest. Miller Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php