Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 301 PM EST Mon Jan 13 2025 Valid 00Z Tue Jan 14 2025 - 00Z Thu Jan 16 2025 ...Extremely critical fire weather conditions continue across coastal Southern California through Tuesday... ...Blast of Arctic air set to push across much of the eastern half of the U.S through Wednesday... ...Locally heavy lake effect snow showers downwind of the Great Lakes through Wednesday... Overall, the weather pattern through Wednesday will feature mostly dry weather as a drier than average airmass is forecast to encompass much of the lower 48. Despite the lack of moisture and widespread precipitation, weather happenings ranging from extreme fire weather, to locally heavy lake effect snow, to Arctic cold will still pose a threat of significant impacts over the next couple of days. After strong downslope Santa Ana winds produced multiple wildfires that devastated communities across Southern California last week, yet another damaging, downslope, offshore wind event is ramping up again to start the new work week. Winds are expected to gust upwards of 55 to 75 mph across portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Tuesday. These high winds will have the potential to produce damage to trees and power lines which could lead to widespread power outages. The greater concern however will be the strength of the winds when combined with very dry relative humidities and dry fuels. This combination will result in extremely critical fire weather conditions, as forecast by the Storm Prediction Center. Not only will these extreme and dangerous conditions make fighting ongoing fires much more difficult, but these will make new ignitions much more likely. New fires that do develop will have the potential to grow and spread rapidly, adding to the danger of the situation. Meanwhile, another blast of Arctic air that has already surged into the Upper Midwest will continue to push south and east into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast for Tuesday. The airmass will be modifying/losing vigor as it reaches the East Coast, but will still be responsible for below average temperatures Tuesday into Wednesday for the Eastern Seaboard. Heavy lake effect snow showers are expected to develop through tonight as the colder air moves across the Great Lakes, with localized snowfall accumulations of 1-2 feet for isolated locations which experience persistent banding through Tuesday night, mainly east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Miller/Otto Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php