Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
238 AM EST Fri Feb 06 2026

Valid 12Z Fri Feb 06 2026 - 12Z Sun Feb 08 2026

...Clipper system to bring snow, high winds, and dangerously cold
temperatures to the Great Lakes east through the Northeast/Appalachians
into the weekend...

...Moderate to locally heavy rainfall expected for the Pacific Northwest
Saturday...

...Warmer-than-average temperatures are set to continue for the western
two-thirds of the country, especially in the northern/central Plains...

A quick moving clipper system sweeping across the Great Lakes into the
Northeast/Appalachians will bring widespread light to moderate snow
showers Friday. Most accumulations will generally be in the 1-3 inch
range, but some locally heavier amounts are expected downwind of Lakes
Erie and Ontario as well as through the central/southern Appalachians. The
snow will continue into coastal New England on Saturday, with some
moderate amounts as high as 4-5 inches possible. Very strong winds will
accompany the system passage, with gusts as high as 60 mph expected,
especially through the Mid-Atlantic. While snow amounts may remain light
for many locations, the gusty winds accompanying the cold front passage
may lead to some snow squalls bringing quick bursts of intense, blowing
snow and suddenly dangerous driving conditions. In addition, bitterly cold
air will follow behind the cold front, with forecast highs Saturday
dropping into the single digits, teens, and 20s. The combination of frigid
temperatures and strong winds will bring dangerously cold wind chills as
low as -30 to portions of the Interior Northeast/New England and as low as
the negative single digits and teens closer to the coast Saturday morning
through Sunday morning. These wind chills will pose a life-threatening
risk of hypothermia and frostbite to exposed skin.

A series of Pacific systems will bring a flow of increased
moisture/Atmospheric River into western Washington Friday and to the rest
of the Pacific Northwest by Saturday. Moderate to locally heavy rainfall
is forecast, especially along the Olympics in Washington where some
isolated flooding is possible. Higher elevations of the Cascades will see
some snowfall. The moisture will spread further inland across the northern
Great Basin and into the northern Rockies later Saturday and into early
Sunday with scattered rain showers for lower elevations and snow into the
mountains. Elsewhere, some widely scattered showers and thunderstorms will
be possible later Saturday and into early Sunday across portions of the
Southwest/west Texas ahead of an approaching upper-low.

Conditions will remain cold more broadly across the eastern U.S. following
the passage of a series of cold fronts. Forecast highs generally range
from the 20s and 30s for the Ohio Valley, 40s and 50s in the Southeast,
and 60s into Florida. Meanwhile, an amplified upper-ridge to the west will
continue to lead to well above average conditions across much of the
central and western U.S. The greatest anomalies are expected across
portions of the northern to central Plains as highs rise into the 50s,
60s, and even low 70s, upwards of 30-40 degrees above early February
averages. Forecast highs for the Interior West range in the 40s to low
60s, with 60s, 70s, and even some 80s from the southern Plains west
through the Southwest and into California. The Pacific Northwest will be
closer to average as the Pacific system moves in, with highs mainly in the
50s. The Mississippi Valley will see a colder Friday with 20s and 30s
north and 40s and 50s south. Conditions will moderate Saturday with highs
10-15 degrees warmer.  

Putnam


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