US Day 3-7 Hazards Outlook
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
220 PM EST Fri Jan 21 2022
 
Valid Monday January 24 2022 - Friday January 28 2022
 
Hazards:
- Flooding occurring or imminent across portions of the Pacific Northwest.
- Much below normal temperatures across portions of the Central Plains, the Middle Mississippi 
Valley, the Great Lakes, the Upper Mississippi Valley, and the Northern Plains, Tue-Wed, Jan 25-Jan 
26.
- Much below normal temperatures across portions of the Northeast, the Central Appalachians, the 
Mid-Atlantic, the Southern Appalachians, the Great Lakes, and the Ohio Valley, Wed-Thu, Jan 26-Jan 
27.
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Alaska Panhandle and mainland Alaska, Mon, Jan 24.
- High winds across portions of the Alaska Panhandle and mainland Alaska, Mon, Jan 24.
 
Detailed Summary:

The medium range period (Monday, January 24th to Friday, January 28th) is expected to be relatively 
quiet across the lower 48, with large scale upper-level troughing located over the eastern U.S. and 
ridging over the West Coast. As a result, storm tracks are forecast to swing from south-central 
Canada into the eastern United States, while remaining fairly progressive and moisture-starved. 
Meanwhile, an unraveling upper-level low is expected to exit the Southwest on Monday and produce an 
area of moderate-to-heavy rain along the Gulf Coast States between Monday and Tuesday. Overall 
rainfall amounts are expected to stay under 2 inches, with a majority of it falling over an 
extended period of time. Therefore, any flooding concerns are minimal at this stage. However, local 
totals up to 3 inches are possible along the coast where instability is forecast to be greatest. As 
this system exits off the Southeast on Wednesday, it is forecast to merge with the large scale 
trough anchored over the Great Lakes. This will lead to the potential for light snow from the Ohio 
Valley/Lower Great Lakes into the Northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Temperatures during this time frame are expected to be generally warmer than average in the West 
and colder than average in the East. More specifically, temperatures to start out the week on 
Monday will be quite cold from the Northeast to the Gulf Coast States, with temperatures around 10 
degrees below average. This will be followed by a brief warm up on Tuesday before the next shot of 
cold air arrives by Thursday. Farther north, the brunt of the next cold airmass is forecast to 
enter the Upper Midwest/Great Lakes on Tuesday and linger into Wednesday, while eventually shifting 
into the Northeast. Subzero low temperatures and even colder wind chills can be expected in these 
regions during this arctic blast, prompting the much below normal temperatures areas on today's 
hazards chart. Temperatures are expected to moderate slightly by Friday as high pressure reaches 
the East Coast and Gulf Coast, with lows around 10 degrees below average. 

...Alaska...

The active pattern continues along the mainland Gulf Coast of Alaska on Monday before quieting down 
later in the week. A low pressure system will spread heavy precipitation and high winds across the 
southern mainland coast of Alaska to start the week, with heavy rain along the immediate coastline 
and mountain snow. Moderate-to-heavy snow is also possible inland throughout the western Mainland 
into Tuesday, but snowfall amounts are generally expected to remain below a foot. Much of the state 
will experience above average temperatures before a cold front brings much colder air from west to 
east by midweek. By Thursday, temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below average will be found throughout 
much of the interior. 

Snell