Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
300 AM EST Wed Dec 10 2025

Valid 12Z Wed Dec 10 2025 - 12Z Fri Dec 12 2025

...Atmospheric river and heavy rain continue across the Pacific Northwest
and Northern Rockies with snow for higher mountain elevations...

...A strong clipper system will bring the threat of heavy snow and high
winds across the interior Northeast and Appalachians...

A strong clipper system located over the Upper Midwest is forecast to
pivot into the interior Northeast today, ushering wintry weather and gusty
winds into the region as it does so. Winter weather-related Advisories and
Warnings have been posted for snowfall amounts of 4-6" over portions of
the Interior Northeast and Appalachians. Of particular note is a stretch
of Blizzard Warnings which have been issued for the Central Applachains
through tomorrow where 50 mph wind gusts will overlap with 3-6" of
snowfall. Elsewhere, favored areas in the Tug Hill and western Adirondacks
can expect storm total snowfall amounts of 8 to 16" through Thursday. As
we look ahead to the end of the work week, yet another clipper will follow
on the heels of this system, bringing with it the chance for freezing rain
and heavy snow from the Northern High Plains into the Ohio Valley. In
advance of this upcoming system, a handful of Winter Storm Watches are
posted for eastern Montana. 

Meanwhile, a prolonged atmospheric river continues to produce heavy rain
in the Pacific Northwest and lower elevations of the northern Rockies.
Slight Risks of Excessive Rainfall (level 2/4) are in effect for the
Pacific Northwest today and tomorrow, and for a portion of the northern
Rockies along the Idaho/Montana border tomorrow and Thursday. The
prolonged rainfall, with totals of several inches possible, will bring the
threat of some scattered flooding, with the warm, tropical origin of the
moisture leading to very high snow levels and thus the inclusion of lower
elevations within the northern Rockies. Snowmelt may also contribute to
flooding especially along area rivers. Snow levels will generally range
between 7000-8000 feet, with locally heavy accumulations possible for both
the northern Cascades and areal ranges of the northern Rockies.

A familiar pattern featuring mean upper-troughing over the central to
eastern U.S. and mean upper-ridging over the central to western U.S. will
continue to keep temperatures at or below average to the east and above to
well above average to the west. Conditions will fluctuate a bit daily
depending on the timing of frontal passages, but forecast highs the next
couple of days will generally be in the teens and 20s for the Northern
Plains/Great Lakes, the 20s and 30s for the Midwest east through the Ohio
Valley and into New England, the 40s and 50s for the Mid-Atlantic and into
the Southeast, and 60s and some 70s along the Gulf Coast and into Florida.
Yet another intrusion of frigid Arctic air into the Northern Plains will
translate to high temperatures which struggle to break into the teens on
Friday. The above to well above average conditions begin across the
central/southern Plains with highs in the 50s/60s further north and 60s
and 70s to the south. In the West, highs will be in the 50s for the
Pacific Northwest and the interior West, 60s and 70s for central to
southern California, and 70s and 80s for the Desert Southwest.

Asherman/Putnam


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