Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
238 AM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

Valid 12Z Thu Dec 18 2025 - 12Z Sat Dec 20 2025

...Dangerous wind gusts and heavy snow to produce hazardous travel and
infrastructure impacts from the Northwest to North-Central U.S....

...Heavy rain likely over portions of the Pacific Northwest while heavy
snow continues for the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and Northern
Rockies...

...Above average temperatures across most of the country to end the week
with numerous possible record-tying/breaking temps in the Western U.S. and
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic...


An amplified upper-trough will pivot from the North-Central U.S. through
the Northeast over the next couple of days. At the surface, widespread
wind gusts of 50-80 mph will continue for much of the Northern/Central
Plains and Central Rockies today. Expect numerous power outages, property
damage and dangerous travel. High wind warnings are in effect for these
areas. A powerful low pressure system will bring high winds and light to
moderate snowfall that will combine to create whiteout conditions across
the Northern Plains into early this evening. Visibility will drop rapidly
and persist in areas of blowing snow, making travel extremely hazardous.
Blizzard warnings are in effect for parts of far northeastern Montana,
much of North Dakota and portions of northwestern Minnesota. As the storm
system pushes east, gusty winds up to 60 mph, locally heavy rain, and lake
effect snow will likely impact the Northeast U.S. on Friday. This may lead
to scattered power outages, tree damage, and delayed travel times. Wind
advisories are in effect for much of the Northeast and northern
Mid-Atlantic.

Persistent troughing with embedded shortwave troughs cycling through will
produce heavy rain along the Pacific Northwest Coast and heavy mountain
snow across the Northwest mountain ranges including the Northern Rockies
through the end of the week. The first round of precipitation will arrive
today alongside a deep surface low pressure system. Heavy rain is expected
to occur over portions of southwestern Washington through western Oregon
and northwestern California, where a slight risk (at least 15% chance) of
excessive rainfall leading to flash flooding is in effect. This heavy
rainfall will exacerbate ongoing flooding of rivers, creeks and small
streams across the Pacific Northwest. Flood warnings are in effect as
well. Landslides in areas of steep terrain and debris flows over recently
burned areas are also potential hazards. The aforementioned rain and
associated hazards shift south along with the associated cold front on
Friday. Another slight risk of excessive rainfall will be in effect for
parts of far southwestern Oregon into northwestern California.

An upper-level ridge in the West will support above average temperatures
for much of the region, save for California's Central Valley, through the
weekend. Widespread high maximum and minimum temperature records may be
tied or broken on Friday/Friday night. The amplified upper trough pivoting
across the Central and Eastern U.S. will generate strong southerly
flow/winds into the East Coast on Friday, leading to anomalously warm
conditions. Numerous high maximum and minimum temperatures are expected
out ahead of the deep surface low pressure system approaching from the
Midwest on Friday/Friday evening as a result. Scattered showers and
thunderstorms will also spread from the Mississippi Valley to the East
Coast through Friday afternoon.


Kebede


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