Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
210 AM EST Tue Dec 16 2025

Valid 12Z Tue Dec 16 2025 - 12Z Thu Dec 18 2025

...Heavy rain and snow likely in Northwest this week...

...Above average temperatures continue across the West and Central U.S.,
while Arctic air begins to erode in the East on Wednesday...


A series of surface low pressure systems will bring heavy rain, heavy
mountain snow and high winds to the Northwest over the next several days.
System number one will arrive over the Pacific Northwest tonight and will
produce heavy rainfall from the northern California coast up to western
Washington throughout the course of the day on Wednesday. Heavy snow will
occur over much of the northern Cascades this evening before expanding
into the southern Cascades beginning Wednesday morning, after the passage
of a potent cold front. Several feet of snow are expected to accumulate
over the Cascades and Olympics by Thursday morning. Rain and mountain snow
spread into the Northern Rockies, where 1-2 feet (isolated higher amounts
possible) may accumulate on Wednesday. Wind, winter, and flooding related
watches and warnings are in effect for much of the Northwest for the next
couple of days at least.

Broad upper-level ridging over the West and Central U.S., will contribute
to above average temperatures this week. Widespread temperature records
may be tied or broken in the West during this time. The Arctic airmass
that gripped the Eastern U.S. for the past couple of days will begin to
moderate as temperatures rise beneath upper ridging over the region.
Elsewhere, a weak low pressure system, supported by a mid-level shortwave
rotating across Mexico, will generate showers and thunderstorms over
portions of the south Texas coast beginning tonight and continuing through
Wednesday afternoon.


Kebede


Graphics available at
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php