314
FXUS01 KWBC 170817
PMDSPD
SHORT RANGE FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD
317 AM EST WED JAN 17 2024
VALID 12Z WED JAN 17 2024 - 12Z FRI JAN 19 2024
...HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOWS FOR THE NORTHWEST/ROCKIES; ICE STORM FOR
PORTIONS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST...
..BANDS OF HEAVY LAKE-EFFECT SNOW CONTINUE FOR THE GREAT LAKES
...A RETURN TO MORE TYPICAL WINTER TEMPERATURES FOR MANY WEDNESDAY
AFTER THE BRUTAL COLD; ANOTHER ARCTIC BLAST EXPECTED LATE THIS
WEEK...
A PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM RESPONSIBLE FOR SIGNIFICANT FREEZING RAIN
ACROSS THE PORTLAND EARLIER TODAY CONTINUES TO TRACK TOWARD THE
WASHINGTON COASTLINE, WHICH WILL TAPER OFF FREEZING RAIN BY THIS
MORNING WHILE SPREADING HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOWFALL ACROSS THE
INTERIOR NORTHWEST AS IT MIGRATES INLAND. MODERATE TO MAJOR
POTENTIAL WINTER STORM IMPACTS CAN BE EXPECTED TODAY INTO THURSDAY
ATOP THE CASCADES AND NORTHERN ROCKIES OWING TO A COMBINATION OF
BLOWING SNOWS AND HIGH SNOWFALL RATES EXCEEDING 2" PER HOUR, WITH
A SWATH OF WINTER STORM WARNINGS NOTED ACROSS THE REGION.
UNFORTUNATELY, LITTLE REPRIEVE WILL OCCUR FROM THE WINTER WEATHER
AS ANOTHER EASTERN PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM PROMPTS ADDITIONAL
FREEZING RAIN ACROSS THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY AND PORTLAND METRO, AND
COLUMBIA BASIN. BY THE END OF THE WORK WEEK, FREEZING RAIN AMOUNTS
FROM THIS "1-2 PUNCH" OF STORMS COULD HOVER AROUND AN INCH FOR THE
WESTERN COLUMBIA GORGE.
EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI, SNOW CHANCES WILL CONTINUE TO THE WEST
FOR THE GREAT LAKES WHERE COLD, NORTHWESTERLY FLOW WILL BRING
BANDS OF HEAVY LAKE-EFFECT SNOW, PARTICULARLY DOWNWIND OF LAKES
ERIE AND ONTARIO. LAKE-EFFECT SNOW WARNINGS ARE IN PLACE FOR
TOTALS BETWEEN 1-3 FEET THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. ANOTHER SYSTEM
SHOULD BRING A RENEWED ROUND OF AT LEAST SOME LIGHT SNOW CHANCES
TO THE MIDWEST BY THURSDAY.
MEANWHILE, A BRIEF ONE DAY REPRIEVE FROM THE FRIGID AIR IS
EXPECTED AS OUR STUBBORN ARCTIC AIRMASS FINALLY MODERATES TODAY,
BRINGING TEMPERATURES BACK CLOSER TO WINTER-TIME AVERAGES. A TRUE
WARM UP IS IN STORE FOR SOUTHERN TEXAS AND EASTWARD ALONG THE GULF
COAST WHERE HIGHS WILL RETURN TO THE 60S AND 70S THURSDAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, ANOTHER ARCTIC BLAST IS EXPECTED TO QUICKLY FOLLOW
THIS ONE, WITH MUCH BELOW AVERAGE TEMPERATURES BEGINNING TO SPREAD
SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS THURSDAY, BEFORE
ARRIVING INTO THE SOUTHERN U.S FRIDAY. ALTHOUGH THIS SURGE OF
ARCTIC AIR DOES NOT LOOK QUITE AS EXTREME AS THE FIRST, BITTERLY
COLD TEMPERATURES ARE STILL POSSIBLE PORTIONS THE CENTRAL PLAINS
THIS WEEKEND.
ASHERMAN/PUTNAM
GRAPHICS AVAILABLE AT
HTTPS://WWW.WPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV/BASICWX/BASICWX_NDFD.PHP
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