Extended Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 143 AM EST Thu Feb 24 2022 Valid 12Z Sun Feb 27 2022 - 12Z Thu Mar 03 2022 ...Pattern Overview... Overall cold and drier conditions are slated for much of the lower 48 states this weekend into early next week to be followed by broad moderation of temperatures spreading from the West to the East early through mid next week in transition to less amplified upper level flow. ...Guidance Evaluation/Predictability Assessment... The WPC medium range product suite was primarily derived from a composite blend of the 18 UTC GFS/GEFS mean, the 12 UTC ECMWF/ECMWF ensemble mean and the 01 UTC National Blend of Models in a pattern with near average predictability. Models and ensembles offer a reasonably similar larger scale pattern evolution, but continue to offer run to run continuity issues and variance with smaller scale embedded weather features. Composite blending tends to mitigate these differences consistent with their varied individual predictability. The strategy acts to maintain max WPC product continuity and a composite of latest 00 UTC model and ensemble guidance remains generally supportive. ...Weather Highlights/Threats... Cold high pressure will settle across much of the country by this weekend into next week. The weather pattern will favor drier conditions. However, northern stream impulses will likely produce periodic light northern tier snows from the Upper Midwest/Great Lakes through the Northeast. Also expect a swath of modest precipitation will traverse the Southeast into Sunday/Monday. This will be mainly in the form of light to moderate cold rains, but with some snow/ice threat on the northern periphery of the swath of precipitation. In addition, precipitation will to develop for the Pacific Northwest/Northern CA this weekend with slow approach of northeast Pacific systems. Precipitation totals are forecast to increase over the Pacific Northwest/northern CA and increasingly spread across the northwestern states through early and mid next week with upper trough and associated lead frontal system approach and passage. This pattern will including locally terrain enhancing heavier snows. Schichtel Additional 3-7 Day Hazard information can be found on the WPC medium range hazards outlook chart at: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/threats/threats.php WPC medium range 500mb heights, surface systems, weather grids, quantitative precipitation, winter weather outlook probabilities and heat indices are at: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/medr/5dayfcst500_wbg.gif https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/medr/5dayfcst_wbg_conus.gif https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/5km_grids/5km_gridsbody.html https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/day4-7.shtml https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/pwpf_d47/pwpf_medr.php?day=4 https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heat_index.shtml