US Day 3-7 Hazards Outlook
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
254 PM EST Thu Dec 26 2019
 
Valid Sunday December 29 2019 - Thursday January 02 2020
 
Hazards:
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Great Basin, 
Tue-Wed, Dec 31-Jan 1.
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Central Plains, the Middle Mississippi Valley, the 
Upper Great Lakes, the Upper Mississippi Valley, and the Northern Plains, Sun-Mon, Dec 29-Dec 30.
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Northeast and the Lower Great Lakes, Mon-Tue, Dec 
30-Dec 31.
- Heavy rain across portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley, the Central/Southern Appalachians, 
the Tennessee Valley, the Mid-Atlantic, the Southeast, the Southern Plains, and the Ohio Valley, 
Wed-Thu, Jan 1-Jan 2.
- Heavy rain across portions of the Central Appalachians, the Tennessee Valley, the Mid-Atlantic, 
the Southern Appalachians, the Lower Great Lakes, and the Ohio Valley, Sun-Mon, Dec 29-Dec 30.
- Heavy snow across portions of the Central Rockies, the Central Great Basin, the Northern Rockies, 
and the Northern Great Basin, Tue-Wed, Dec 31-Jan 1.
- Flooding possible across portions of the Middle Mississippi Valley.
- Flooding occurring or imminent across portions of the Southeast and the Northern Plains.
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Alaska Panhandle and mainland Alaska, Sun-Tue, Dec 
29-Dec 31 and Wed-Thu, Jan 1-Jan 2.
- High winds across portions of mainland Alaska, Mon-Tue, Dec 30-Dec 31.
- Much below normal temperatures across portions of mainland Alaska, Sun, 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 
Upper Midwest 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 (Sunday) heavy 
snow and a wintry mix is forecast to stretch from the Northern/Central Plains 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. 

Towards the beginning of the New Year, moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and an approaching low 
pressure system will lead to an area of heavy rain across the Western/Central Gulf Coast to the 
Central Appalachians.  By Monday there is a signal for heavy precipitation to return to the Pacific 
Northwest.

Across Alaska, heavy precipitation and significant waves are likely to impact the Alaskan Panhandle 
and southeast mainland through to the 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.

Ziegenfelder