654
FXUS01 KWBC 021923
PMDSPD
SHORT RANGE FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD
222 PM EST FRI JAN 02 2026
VALID 00Z SAT JAN 03 2026 - 00Z MON JAN 05 2026
...A RETURN TO A WET WEATHER PATTERN FOR THE WEST COAST TO BEGIN
2026...
...MUCH ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES STRETCH FROM THE INTERIOR WEST
TO THE PLAINS AND SOUTH WHILE BELOW AVERAGE TEMPERATURES CONTINUE
FROM THE MIDWEST TO THE NORTHEAST...
...ACTIVE LAKE EFFECT SNOWS CONTINUE DOWNWIND OF LAKES ONTARIO AND
ERIE...
A SLOW MOVING UPPER-TROUGH APPROACHING THE WEST COAST WILL HELP TO
FUNNEL PACIFIC MOISTURE TOWARDS CALIFORNIA BRINGING YET ANOTHER
ATMOSPHERIC RIVER EVENT HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND. RAINFALL WILL BE
INCREASING TODAY (FRIDAY) ESPECIALLY FOR AREAS ALONG THE COASTAL
RANGES OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA
BEFORE SPREADING SOUTHWARD INTO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SATURDAY.
FLASH FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. AN
ISOLATED RISK FOR FLASH FLOODING WILL EXIST TODAY WITH SLIGHT
RISKS OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL (LEVEL 2/4) ALONG THE RANGES NORTH OF
LOS ANGELES AND UPSLOPE AREAS OF THE NORTHERN SIERRA ON SATURDAY
WHEN MORE SCATTERED INSTANCES OF FLASH FLOODING ARE POSSIBLE.
HEAVIER SNOW WILL ALSO BEGIN FOR THE SIERRA NEVADA AND HIGHER
MOUNTAINS ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SATURDAY AS THE UPPER-TROUGH
MOVES EASTWARD BRINGING MOISTURE FURTHER INLAND AND COOLER AIR TO
BRING SNOW LEVELS DOWN. THIS SYSTEM WILL ALSO USHER IN GUSTY WINDS
WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME COASTAL FLOODING. MODERATE RAINS WILL
ALSO SPREAD NORTHWARD INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WITH SNOW FOR THE
HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE CASCADES INTO SATURDAY.
ONGOING LAKE EFFECT SNOWS, PARTICULARLY DOWNWIND OF LAKES ONTARIO
AND ERIE, WILL PERSIST GIVEN THE FRIGID, WESTERLY FLOW ACROSS THE
FETCH. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED FOR THE INTERIOR
SOUTHEAST TODAY AND NEAR THE EAST AND GULF COASTS SATURDAY AS A
QUICK MOVING UPPER-WAVE AND ACCOMPANYING LOW PRESSURE/FRONTAL
SYSTEM MOVES TROUGH. ACROSS THE WEST, MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY
SNOWS WILL CONTINUE FOR SOME OF THE MOUNTAIN RANGES OF THE
NORTHERN/CENTRAL ROCKIES AND GREAT BASIN AS AN UPPER-WAVE PASSES
OVER THE REGION TODAY BEFORE TAPERING OFF INTO THE EVENING.
SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO PICK BACK UP FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN
ROCKIES AS THE UPPER-TROUGH FROM THE WEST APPROACHES LATER
SATURDAY.
TEMPERATURES FOR THE INTERIOR WEST WILL REMAIN WELL ABOVE SEASONAL
AVERAGE THIS WEEKEND AND WILL EXPAND NORTHWARD OVER THE PLAINS AS
THE UPPER RIDGE SHIFTS ITS AXIS EASTWARD- DAILY MAXIMUMS WILL
RANGE IN THE 40S AND 50S FOR THE INTERIOR WEST AND THE 50S AND 60S
FOR THE HIGH PLAINS, CENTRAL PLAINS AND SOUTHEAST. FOR THE GULF
COAST AND TEXAS LOOK FOR DAILY HIGHS IN THE 70S AND 80S WITH SOME
LOCATIONS IN EASTERN TEXAS POSSIBLY TYING OR SETTING NEW DAILY
RECORDS TODAY. IN CONTRAST, BELOW TO MUCH BELOW AVERAGE
TEMPERATURES EXPECTED FROM THE MIDWEST TO THE NORTHEAST IN THE
WAKE OF A COLD FRONT AND UPPER TROUGHING.
HIGHS WILL GENERALLY BE IN THE TEENS AND 20S FOR THE GREAT LAKES
AND NEW ENGLAND AND 30S AND 40S FROM THE MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY
EAST THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY AND INTO THE MID-ATLANTIC. HIGHS WILL
GENERALLY BE AROUND AVERAGE FOR THE WEST COAST, MAINLY IN THE 50S
AND 60S.
CAMPBELL/PUTNAM
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