Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
252 AM EST Thu Jan 15 2026

Valid 12Z Thu Jan 15 2026 - 12Z Sat Jan 17 2026

...Lingering heavy snow for the Great Lakes and Interior Northeast...

...Very gusty winds for much of the northern and central High Plains today
and Friday...

...Below average temperatures continue for much of the eastern U.S. while
the West sees above average, mild temperatures...

In the wake of today's frontal passage, heavy snowfall on the northwest
side of a potent surface low will linger over portions of the Great Lakes
and Interior Northeast today. Accordingly, a handful of Winter Storm
Warnings and Lake Effect Snow Warnings remain in effect for an additional
6-8" of snowfall. For the rest of the region, precipitation should come to
an end by the afternoon as the front exits stage right into the Atlantic.
Then, to the northwest, a clipper-like system is on track to drop
southeastward from south-central Canada into the Northern Tier this
afternoon, leading to broad area of snow showers. Some light accumulations
are expected for portions of the Upper Midwest/Great Lakes today, before
heavy lake-enhanced snow showers develop tomorrow--particularly along the
northern UP/western LP of Michigan. As this system tracks across the Great
Lakes late tomorrow and Saturday, light mixed precipitation is expected to
spread from the Midwest into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The deep low
pressure system dropping southward will also funnel northerly flow along
the Rockies and High Plains today and tomorrow, with strong gusts of 40-65
mph expected.

Precipitation aside, much of the eastern U.S. will wake up to chilly,
below average temperatures today. Forecast high temperatures generally
range in the 20s and 30s from the Great Lakes to the Northeast, and 30s
and 40s from the Lower Mississippi Valley through the Southeast.
Sub-freezing overnight lows will continue tomorrow for most locations,
including into northern and central Florida where Freeze Warnings remain
in place for potential damage to crops and other sensitive vegetation.
Daytime high temperatures should briefly rebound tomorrow, before our
clipper-like system pulls reinforcing Polar air southward across the
central and eastern U.S. late Friday and Saturday. In stark contrast to
the cold weather, above average warmth will persist over the Western U.S.
beneath a strong upper-ridge. Highs the next couple of days will be in the
50s for much of the Interior West/Pacific Northwest, 60s and 70s in
California, and 70s and 80s for the Desert Southwest.

Asherman/Putnam


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