US Day 3-7 Hazards Outlook
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
409 PM EST Mon Dec 28 2020
 
Valid Thursday December 31 2020 - Monday January 04 2021
 
Hazards:
- Heavy precipitation from the eastern portion of the southern Plains, across the mid-Mississippi 
Valley, into the central Appalachians and southern New England as well as, portions of the Pacific 
Northwest, Thu-Fri, Dec 31-Jan 1.
- Heavy precipitation across portions of northern California and into the Pacific Northwest, 
Sat-Mon, Jan 2-Jan 4.
- Heavy precipitation across portions of interior northern New England, Fri-Sat, Jan 1-Jan 2.
- Heavy rain from portions of the Deep South into the interior Southeast, across the southern to 
central Appalachians, and much of the Mid-Atlantic, Thu-Fri, Dec 31-Jan 1.
- Heavy snow across portions of the northern Rockies, Sat-Mon, Jan 2-Jan 4.
- Heavy snow across portions of the central Plains, into the upper Midwest and the central Great 
Lakes, Thu-Fri, Dec 31-Jan 1.
- Severe weather across portions of the Deep South, Thu, Dec 31.
- Severe weather across portions of the Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic, Fri, Jan 1.
- Flooding possible across portions of Illinois, and Missouri.
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Alaska Panhandle, Fri-Sat, Jan 1-Jan 2.
- High winds across western Aleutians, Thu-Fri, Dec 31-Jan 1.
- High significant wave heights for coastal portions of the western Aleutians, Thu-Fri, Dec 31-Jan 
1.
 
Detailed Summary:

Widespread impactful weather is forecast to spread from the central portion of the country through 
much of the eastern U.S. on New Year's Day and into the weekend as a low pressure system tracks 
across these area during the medium range period.  A swath of moderate to heavy snow is expected 
from the central Plains, into the upper Midwest and the central Great Lakes.  Near the track of the 
storm center, precipitation could change from rain to ice or snow, or vice versa.  Meanwhile, 
widespread rain with embedded heavy rain across the Deep South will likely expand further 
northeastward on New Year's Eve as the low pressure system begins to intensify near the western 
Gulf Coast.  In addition, severe weather is possible from the central Gulf Coast region to the 
Florida Panhandle as a strong cold front approaches.  By New Year's Day, the heavy rain threat 
should overspread much of the East Coast with possible severe weather moving into Georgia and parts 
of the Carolinas.  Farther north, snow is forecast to reach interior New England on New Year's Day 
and pick up in intensity.  The snow could change over to a period of mixed precipitation early on 
Saturday before gradually tapering off as snow later in the day.

Meanwhile, more active weather is expected to continue across the Pacific Northwest.  After a 
reprieve later on New Year's Eve, the next surge of moisture from a Pacific cyclone is forecast to 
reach the Pacific Northwest on New Year's Day and continue into Saturday.  This will be followed by 
a reinforcing surge of moisture on Sunday and later on Monday.  Much of the Pacific Northwest and 
down into northern California will remain under the threat of heavy rain for the lower elevations 
while snow will likely become heavy along the northern Cascades starting on New Year's Day and then 
spreading into the southern Cascades and the northern Sierra Nevada on Saturday into early next 
week.  Some of the moisture will penetrate further inland to result in heavy snow over parts of the 
northern Rockies during the weekend into early next week.

Meanwhile in Alaska, a very deep and intense cyclone is forecast to bring storm-force winds across 
the western Aleutians on New Year's Eve into New Year's Day with significant waves along the coast. 
 Farther east, an approaching frontal system could spread heavy precipitation over the southern 
portion of the Alaska panhandle on Friday and Saturday before the system slowly dissipates.

Kong