509
FXUS01 KWBC 281942
PMDSPD
SHORT RANGE FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD
241 PM EST WED FEB 28 2024
VALID 00Z THU FEB 29 2024 - 00Z SAT MAR 2 2024
...MUCH COLDER CONDITIONS ARRIVE BEHIND COLD FRONT FOR THE EASTERN
HALF OF THE NATION...
...IMPRESSIVE WINTER STORM WILL HAMMER THE CASCADES TO THE SIERRA
WITH BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO END THE WEEK...
A REALITY CHECK IS IN PROGRESS ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE
COUNTRY AFTER THE RECORD-BREAKING WARMTH THAT WAS OBSERVED ON
TUESDAY ACROSS A BIG PORTION OF THE PLAINS AND MIDWEST STATES.
THE STRONG COLD FRONT THAT IS HERALDING THIS CHANGE TO MUCH COLDER
CONDITIONS WILL BE EXITING THE EAST COAST WEDNESDAY EVENING, WITH
A CORRIDOR OF SHOWERS AND SOME THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM THE
COASTAL SOUTHEAST U.S. TO NEW ENGLAND, FOLLOWED BY AN ABRUPT DROP
IN TEMPERATURES AND WINDY CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT INTO EARLY
THURSDAY. WIND ADVISORIES AND HIGH WIND WARNINGS ARE CURRENTLY IN
EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE NORTHEAST AND MID-ATLANTIC REGION THROUGH
EARLY THURSDAY.
MARCH WILL BE COMING IN LIKE A LION FOR THE WEST COAST STATES. AN
EXTREMELY POTENT WINTER STORM WILL BE MAKING ALL KINDS OF WEATHER
HEADLINES FOR THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND
CALIFORNIA, PARTICULARLY FOR THE SIERRA GOING INTO FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY. A PROLONGED PERIOD OF UPSLOPE FLOW, COMBINED WITH
ABUNDANT MOISTURE FROM THE PACIFIC AND LOWERING SNOW LEVELS, WILL
RESULT IN A MULTI-DAY HEAVY SNOWFALL EVENT WITH BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS AS WINDS GUST WELL OVER 50 MPH. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS
FOR SNOWFALL TOTALS ON THE ORDER OF 5-10 FEET BY SATURDAY EVENING
FOR THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SIERRA! THIS WILL RESULT IN A
TRAVEL NIGHTMARE FOR THE MOUNTAIN PASSES THAT ARE AFFECTED, AND
WILL LIKELY RESULT IN NUMEROUS ROAD CLOSURES. THERE WILL ALSO BE
MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW FOR THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE NORTHERN
ROCKIES, BUT NOT TO THE SAME MAGNITUDE AS THE SIERRA AND CASCADES.
HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED FOR THE COASTAL AREAS BETWEEN SAN
FRANCISCO AND THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA OF WASHINGTON WHERE A FEW
INCHES ARE LIKELY OVER THE NEXT 3 DAYS.
ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE CONTINENTAL U.S., MOISTURE WILL BE ON THE
INCREASE NORTH OF A SURFACE LOW ACROSS THE NORTHERN GULF ON
FRIDAY, AND A SWATH OF MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED
FROM SOUTHERN LOUISIANA TO NORTHERN GEORGIA, WITH SOME LOCATIONS
POSSIBLY GETTING OVER AN INCH OF RAINFALL. SHOWERS ARE ALSO
EXPECTED FROM SOUTHEAST ARIZONA TO WESTERN TEXAS WEDNESDAY NIGHT,
AND HIGHER ELEVATION SNOW SHOWERS, WITH THE COLD FRONT DROPPING
SOUTH AND AN UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE PASSING THROUGH THE REGION.
DRY CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST FOR THE CENTRAL/NORTHERN PLAINS INTO
THE MIDWEST STATES WITH HIGH PRESSURE GOVERNING THE OVERALL
WEATHER PATTERN.
HAMRICK
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