US Day 3-7 Hazards Outlook
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
147 PM EST Wed Dec 25 2019
 
Valid Saturday December 28 2019 - Wednesday January 01 2020
 
Hazards:
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Central Plains, the Middle Mississippi Valley, 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 rain across portions of the Central Plains, the Mid-Atlantic, the Lower Mississippi Valley, 
the Central Appalachians, the Tennessee Valley, the Great Lakes, the Middle Mississippi Valley, the 
Northeast, the Southern Appalachians, the Upper Mississippi Valley, the Southeast, the Southern 
Plains, and the Ohio Valley, Sat-Mon, Dec 28-Dec 30.
- Heavy rain across portions of the Southeast, the Southern Appalachians, the Lower Mississippi 
Valley, the Southern Plains, and the Tennessee Valley, Wed, Jan 1.
- Flooding possible across portions of the Southeast.
- Flooding occurring or imminent across portions of the Northern Plains and the Tennessee Valley.
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Alaska Panhandle and mainland Alaska, Sat-Tue, Dec 
28-Dec 31.
- High winds across portions of mainland Alaska, Mon-Tue, Dec 30-Dec 31.
- Much below normal temperatures across portions of mainland Alaska, Sat-Sun, Dec 28-Dec 29.
- High significant wave heights for coastal portions of the Alaska Panhandle and mainland Alaska, 
Tue-Wed, Dec 31-Jan 1.
 
Detailed Summary:

The final days of 2019 will have several weather hazards as a low pressure system tracks from the 
Southern Plains 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 (Saturday) heavy 
snow and a wintry mix is forecast to stretch from the Southern Rockies to the Upper Great Lakes. By 
Sunday, the majority of the frozen precipitation will be confined to the Upper Midwest and eastern 
portions of the Northern Plains, while also entering the Northeast. Heavy precipitation was used as 
a label for these areas instead of heavy snow, due to transitioning precipitation types and 
uncertainty with the exact location of the rain/snow line. However, snowfall amounts greater than 6 
inches are increasingly likely across portions of the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains. 
Uncertainty is still high across New England regarding specific amounts and precipitation type, so 
be sure to check for updates as the event draws closer. The heavy rain threat will move eastward 
from the Middle Mississippi Valley on Saturday to the Northeast on Sunday and Monday, with 
widespread rainfall amounts around an inch. 

Towards the beginning of the New Year, moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and an approaching low 
pressure system will lead to a possible area of heavy rain across the Deep South and Southeast. 
Uncertainty exists on how far west the heavy rain extends, but current thoughts highlight eastern 
Texas to northern Georgia. By Monday there is a signal for heavy precipitation to return to the 
Pacific Northwest, but confidence was not high enough to add an area to the hazards graphic.

Across Alaska, heavy precipitation and significant waves are likely to impact the Alaskan 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 through Sunday. Meanwhile, 
another low pressure system could impact the southern mainland and Alaskan Peninsula by Monday, 
bringing potentially high winds.

Snell