Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 258 PM EST Tue Jan 21 2025 Valid 00Z Wed Jan 22 2025 - 00Z Fri Jan 24 2025 ...Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chill values will linger for much of the South and eastern U.S.... ...Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chill values will linger for much of the South and eastern U.S.... ...Rare winter storm to bring heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain to the Gulf Coast and Southeast, with widespread travel impacts expected... ...Moderate to heavy lake-effect snow downwind from the Great Lakes... ...There is an Extreme Risk of fire weather over parts of Southern California... Bitterly cold high pressure extending from the Ohio Valley to the Southern Plains brings temperatures 25 to 30 degrees below average from parts of the Mid-Atlantic to the Central Gulf Coast. The Arctic Air Mass will create widespread sub-freezing overnight lows along the Gulf Coast and throughout the Southeast. The cold weather will exacerbate power outages. The Arctic Air encompassing the eastern two-thirds of the United States will persist with only a slow return to normal temperatures later in the week. Multiple record low temperatures are possible through mid-week, especially across the Gulf Coast and portions of the Southeast. The record low temperatures will also include record cold afternoon high temperatures. In addition, 30 to 50 degrees below zero wind chills develop across portions of the Dakotas and the Upper Midwest. The 30 to 50 degrees below zero wind chills pose an extreme risk of hypothermia and frostbite to exposed skin. The sub-zero wind chills will continue from the Central Plains eastward across the Ohio Valley, including the northern Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast through Wednesday night. Moreover, along with the cold air, a significant winter storm continues to unfold with rapidly deteriorating travel conditions across portions of the Gulf Coast. Impactful winter weather, including heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain, will continue to spread eastward from parts of the Florida panhandle through the eastern Carolinas. On Tuesday evening, the snowfall will be tapering off from eastern Texas through the western Florida Panhandle. Major highway and air traffic disruptions, including possible road closures and flight cancellations, may continue for several days even after the snowfall ends. Significant impacts on travel are expected, with localized power outages and tree damage likely in areas with the heaviest icing. From Tuesday evening into Wednesday, 0.10 inches of freezing rain will develop across northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a clipper system will move across the Upper Great Lakes into Eastern Canada by Thursday. The cold air and upper-level energy will produce lake-effect snow downwind from the Great Lakes. As the front passes, lake-effect snow will become more moderate to heavy lake-enhanced snow through Thursday. Furthermore, intense high pressure over parts of the Northern Intermountain Region and Great Basin will set up Santa Ana winds over Southern California. Therefore, the SPC has issued an Extreme Risk of fire weather over parts of Southern California. Winds of 20 to 40 mph, with stronger winds in the terrain, low relative humidity, and dry fuels have contributed to the dangerous conditions. Ziegenfelder Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php