Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
312 AM EST Wed Jan 14 2026

Valid 12Z Wed Jan 14 2026 - 12Z Fri Jan 16 2026

...Cold weather arrives over the Eastern U.S. today; wintry weather to
spread from the Midwest into the Northeast...

...System late Thursday to produce snow along the Northern Tier...

After an unseasonably warm and dry start to the work week, cold weather
finally returns east of the Mississippi River today as a series of cold
fronts merge over the Ohio Valley this afternoon. While this cold front is
not expected to set any records, tomorrow will feel much chillier across
much of the Eastern U.S as daytime high temperatures plummet 10-20 degrees
across the board beneath Arctic high pressure. Temperatures aside, strong
northwesterly flow behind front will focus heavy lake effect snows in the
northerly snow belts of the Great Lakes. The most intense lake effect is
expected along the southeast shore of Lake Michigan, where 8-12 inches of
snowfall is possible through Thursday within a band which is forecast to
materialize later this morning. Meanwhile, wintry weather will blossom
over the Ohio Valley and Northeast this as rain switches over to snow on
the northwest flank of a developing low pressure center. Moderate to
locally heavy snowfall should persist through tomorrow as the low takes
shape, leading to snowfall amounts of 3-6" (locally higher 8-10") over
parts of the Appalachians and the Tug Hill of New York.

Beyond Thursday, another system is forecast to dive out of the Canadian
Prairies into the Northern Tier, leading to additional snowfall over parts
of the Northern Plains and Midwest. While exact snowfall amounts with this
next round appear pretty low as of now, blowing snow may be an issue with
this system owing to the strong pressure gradient in place. Check back for
updates as forecast details come into view.

Asherman/Wilder


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