US Day 3-7 Hazards Outlook NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 243 PM EST Tue Feb 16 2021 Valid Friday February 19 2021 - Tuesday February 23 2021 Hazards: - Heavy precipitation across portions of the Pacific Northwest, Sun-Tue, Feb 21-Feb 23. - Heavy snow across portions of the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Great Basin, Fri-Tue, Feb 19-Feb 23. - Heavy snow across portions of the Central Great Basin, the Pacific Northwest, and the Northern Great Basin, Fri-Sat, Feb 19-Feb 20. - Heavy snow across portions of the Northern Rockies, Sun-Mon, Feb 21-Feb 22. - Heavy snow across portions of the Northeast, Fri, Feb 19. - Flooding possible across portions of the Southeast, the Southern Appalachians, the Mid-Atlantic, the Central Appalachians, and the Ohio Valley. - Flooding occurring or imminent across portions of the Mid-Atlantic. - Flooding likely across portions of the Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic. - High winds across portions of the Central Rockies, the Central Plains, the Central Great Basin, the Northern Plains, and the Northern Rockies, Sun-Mon, Feb 21-Feb 22. - Much below normal temperatures across portions of the Central Plains, the Lower Mississippi Valley, the Central Appalachians, the Northern Plains, the Tennessee Valley, the Great Lakes, the Middle Mississippi Valley, the Southern Appalachians, the Upper Mississippi Valley, the Southeast, the Southern Plains, and the Ohio Valley, Fri-Sat, Feb 19-Feb 20. - Much below normal temperatures across portions of the Southern Appalachians, the Great Lakes, the Mid-Atlantic, the Central Appalachians, and the Ohio Valley, Sun, Feb 21. - Heavy precipitation across portions of the Alaska Panhandle, Sat-Mon, Feb 20-Feb 22. - Much below normal temperatures across portions of mainland Alaska, Sat-Tue, Feb 20-Feb 23. Detailed Summary: During the medium range period (Friday, February 19th - Tuesday, February 23rd) a continuation of arctic cold and wintry weather will be found across several sections of the country, but there is light at the end of this cold and dark tunnel. On Friday, a storm system is expected to be in the process of exiting the East Coast. Heavy snowfall greater than 4 inches will be possible across portions of New England before precipitation gradually ends early Saturday. Meanwhile, the bitter cold that has gripped the center of the Nation will remain this weekend before slowly moderating by Sunday. Temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below average will still be possible across the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic on Sunday, thanks to a fresh snowpack. By early next week temperatures will actually hedge above average across the northern tier of the United States and nearly the entire country could see high temperatures above freezing. Multiple rounds of precipitation are set to continue the active weather pattern across the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies during this time frame. At the moment, the greatest chances for impactful snowfall can be found across the Cascade Mountains of Washington and Oregon early this weekend, lingering into next week across Washington. Heavy snow is also expected across northern Idaho and northwest Montana ahead of an approaching cold front. This same frontal system is likely to lead to gusty downsloping winds across the northern and central High Plains on Sunday and Monday. Precipitation will likely fall as rain across coastal/lower elevation regions in the Pacific Northwest during the medium range period. Rain could be heavy and add up to over two inches between Sunday and Tuesday. At the same time, a storm system traversing the central Rockies on Friday and Saturday could bring moderate snow to the higher elevations of Utah and Colorado. By Sunday, an area of low pressure is forecast to develop across the central Plains and move toward the Great Lakes and Northeast. Light rain and snow is expected ahead of this system, with a wintry mix in-between. High uncertainty remains with how much moisture will be available and therefore a heavy snow area was not added to the hazards chart today. If an area was to be added in future forecasts it would likely be across the Lower Great Lakes and New England between Sunday and Monday. Be sure to check the latest forecast for the most up-to-date information. For Alaska, a busy pattern over the Gulf of Alaska will lead to a long duration period of heavy coastal rain and inland snow across the Panhandle between Saturday and Monday. Liquid precipitation amounts over 2 inches will be possible, with over a foot of snow likely in the higher elevations Additionally, daily low temperatures are expected to be much below normal for portions of the Interior beginning on Saturday. With temperatures reaching as low as -30F, extreme caution should be taken when traveling outdoors to prevent frostbite and illness. Snell