Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 300 PM EST Mon Jan 20 2025 Valid 00Z Tue Jan 21 2025 - 00Z Thu Jan 23 2025 ...Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chill values to linger for much of the South and eastern third of the nation through mid-week... ...Rare winter storm to bring heavy snow as well as areas of sleet and freezing rain to the Gulf Coast and Southeast with widespread impacts... ...Extremely Critical Risk of Fire Weather for southern California will continue into Tuesday... A bitterly cold arctic airmass is currently in place for locations east of the Rockies with well below average temperatures extending from the High Plains to the East Coast. Wind chill values of 40 to 55 degrees below zero will linger within the core of the coldest air from the northern Plains into the Upper Mississippi Valley through Tuesday morning. Wind chill values that are below zero will affect a broad portion of the lower 48 extending from the southern High Plains into the Ohio River Valley and northern Mid-Atlantic region with wind chills in the teens and single digits possible for portions of the Gulf Coast. These extreme cold conditions will pose a risk of hypothermia to individuals not dressed appropriately as well pose potential for frozen pipes and damage to sensitive vegetation. While much warmer temperatures are forecast for the northern Plains tomorrow, the cold temperatures will continue from the Midwest to the southern Plains to the East Coast tomorrow and Wednesday. High temperatures for these regions on Tuesday are expected to be 20 to 30 degrees below mid-January averages and lows will drop below freezing for all locations east of the Rockies except for central and southern Florida. With the cold air in place, wintry precipitation is expected to overspread south-central Texas to the central Gulf Coast tonight as an upper level disturbance passes over the southern Plains. Snow or a snow/sleet mix is likely for cities from San Antonio to Houston and New Orleans to Albany, GA while freezing rain falls on South Texas and portions of southern Georgia and northern Florida as the unusual winter storm tracks east on Tuesday/Tuesday night. A narrow stripe of 4 to 6 inches will be possible from southeastern Texas into southern Louisiana. Light accumulations of snow are expected from the Florida Panhandle to the beaches of the Carolinas. This winter storm is likely to result in major travel disruptions, including significant traffic impacts on area highways, power outages as well as flight delays/cancellations for these areas that are not accustomed to impactful winter weather. Conditions will begin to warm for the western U.S. into the middle of the week but the continued dry conditions and dangerous Santa Ana winds will contribute to Extremely Critical fire weather conditions for southern California through the remainder of today into at least Tuesday morning. Winds for coastal locations could gust into the 50-70 mph range while wind gusts to near 100 mph will be possible in the mountains and foothills. While some improvement is possible later on Tuesday, conditions will remain dangerous with additional rounds of gusty offshore winds which will continue through Wednesday. Elsewhere, bands of heavy lake effect snow will continue the next couple of days for favorable downwind locations of the Great Lakes with persistent northwesterly flow in place. Otto Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php