US Day 3-7 Hazards Outlook
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
158 PM EST Tue Dec 24 2019
 
Valid Friday December 27 2019 - Tuesday December 31 2019
 
Hazards:
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Central Plains, the Central Rockies, the Central Great 
Basin, the Southern Rockies, the Southern Plains, and the Southwest, Fri-Sat, Dec 27-Dec 28.
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Great Lakes, the Upper Mississippi Valley, and the 
Northern Plains, Sat-Sun, Dec 28-Dec 29.
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Northeast and the Great Lakes, Sun-Mon, Dec 29-Dec 30.
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Southwest, Fri, Dec 27.
- Heavy rain across portions of the Central Plains, the Lower Mississippi Valley, the Tennessee 
Valley, the Great Lakes, the Middle Mississippi Valley, the Upper Mississippi Valley, the Southern 
Plains, and the Ohio Valley, Fri-Sat, Dec 27-Dec 28.
- Heavy rain across portions of the Mid-Atlantic, the Lower Mississippi Valley, the Central 
Appalachians, the Tennessee Valley, the Northeast, the Southern Appalachians, the Southeast, the 
Great Lakes, and the Ohio Valley, Sun-Mon, Dec 29-Dec 30.
- Flooding possible across portions of the Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic.
- Flooding occurring or imminent across portions of the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Plains.
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Alaska Panhandle and mainland Alaska, Fri-Sat, Dec 
27-Dec 28and Sun-Tue, Dec 29-Dec 31.
- Much below normal temperatures across portions of mainland Alaska, Fri-Tue, Dec 27-Dec 31.
 
Detailed Summary:

The final five days of 2019 will have several weather hazards as a low pressure system tracks from 
the Southern Rockies to the Northeast. The exact location of this low will have major consequences 
regarding precipitation type and amounts. At the start of the medium range period heavy mountain 
snow and lower elevation rain is forecast across the Southern Rockies, extending into portions of 
the Southern High Plains on Saturday. As the system enters the Plains on Saturday, widespread heavy 
rain is possible across the central U.S., with heavy snow and a wintry mix possible across the 
Upper Midwest and Upper Great Lakes this weekend. A few solutions indicate heavy snow is possible 
further west across the Northern Plains, but this outcome is not favored at the moment. The heavy 
rain threat will move eastward by the end of the weekend from the Tennessee Valley to the 
Northeast, with an inch or more of rain possible. Meanwhile, a mix of heavy snow and rain is 
forecast to impact northern New England and portions of the Interior Northeast on Sunday and 
Monday. Uncertainty is still high across these regions regarding specific amounts and precipitation 
type, so be sure to check for updates as the event draws closer.

Temperatures during this time period will remain above normal across the Eastern and Northern U.S., 
with cooler than average temperatures in the Southwest. By Tuesday (New Year's Eve) there is a 
signal for heavy rain to return to the Pacific Northwest, but confidence was not high enough to add 
an area to the hazards graphic. 

Across Alaska, heavy precipitation from two separate systems is likely across the Panhandle and 
southeast Mainland to end the year. Temperatures are forecast to remain very cold (20 to 40 degrees 
below average) across interior and western portions of the state. This equates to widespread high 
temperatures in the -20s and -30s, with lows in the -40s.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Snell