942
FXUS01 KWBC 222004
PMDSPD
SHORT RANGE FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD
302 PM EST THU JAN 22 2026
VALID 00Z FRI JAN 23 2026 - 00Z SUN JAN 25 2026
...SCATTERED SNOW SQUALLS TO CREATE DANGEROUS TRAVEL FROM THE
INTERIOR NORTHEAST TO NORTHERN/CENTRAL NEW ENGLAND THROUGH
FRIDAY...
...DANGEROUSLY COLD ARCTIC AIR SPILLS OUT OVER THE GREAT PLAINS
AND EASTERN U.S THROUGH THE WEEKEND....
...MAJOR WINTER STORM TO BRING CRIPPLING ICE AND SLEET TO PORTIONS
OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY FRIDAY INTO
THE WEEKEND, AND HEAVY SNOWFALL NORTHWARDS FROM THE OHIO VALLEY,
MID-ATLANTIC, AND NEW ENGLAND.
A POTENT MID-LEVEL TROUGH PIVOTING THROUGH SOUTHEASTERN CANADA
WILL CONTINUE PRODUCING LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS DOWNWIND OF THE
GREAT LAKES THROUGH FRIDAY. IN ADDITION TO THE LAKE EFFECT SNOW,
SNOW SHOWERS AND SNOW SQUALLS ARE LIKELY TO DEVELOP BEHIND THE
ASSOCIATED STRONG SURFACE COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHEAST
TODAY, WITH A SECOND ROUND OF SNOW SQUALLS POSSIBLE TOMORROW. SNOW
SQUALLS CREATE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOW
RATES AND STRONG, GUSTY WINDS, LEADING TO SNOW-COVERED ROADS AND
NEAR-ZERO VISIBILITY. IF YOU ENCOUNTER A SNOW SQUALL WHILE DRIVING
AND CANNOT SAFELY EXIT THE ROADWAY, REDUCE SPEED, TURN ON YOUR
LIGHTS AND HAZARDS AND AVOID SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES.
MEANWHILE, DANGEROUSLY COLD AND VERY DRY ARCTIC AIR WILL EXPAND
INTO THE NORTHERN/CENTRAL PLAINS, UPPER MIDWEST/GREAT LAKES TODAY,
BEFORE SPILLING OUT INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY
AND MIDWEST TONIGHT. THIS ARCTIC BLAST WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY
GUSTY WINDS, LEADING TO DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS. THE COLDEST WIND
CHILLS MAY FALL BELOW -50 ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS WITH SUB-ZERO
WIND CHILLS REACHING AS FAR SOUTHEAST AS THE MID-ATLANTIC,
MID-MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND SOUTHERN PLAINS. THESE WIND CHILLS WILL
POSE LIFE-THREATENING RISK OF HYPOTHERMIA AND FROSTBITE TO EXPOSED
SKIN. ADDITIONALLY, ANY POWER OUTAGES CAUSED BY THE IMPENDING
MAJOR WINTER STORM COULD PROLONG AND COMPOUND THIS RISK. ENSURE
PETS AND ANIMALS HAVE PROTECTION FROM THE COLD. EXTREME COLD
WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND UPPER
MIDWEST, WHILE COLD WEATHER ADVISORIES AND EXTREME COLD WATCHES
ARE IN EFFECT FARTHER SOUTH ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND
LOWER/MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
AN IMPACTFUL WINTER STORM WILL TRACK FROM THE SOUTHERN HIGH
PLAINS/ROCKIES FRIDAY, ACROSS THE MID-SOUTH AND OHIO VALLEY ON
SATURDAY, AND THEN THE MID-ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST ON SUNDAY. HEAVY
SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS, NEARING A FOOT WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS
POSSIBLE, ARE LIKELY ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE SYSTEM, RANGING
FROM OKLAHOMA TO MASSACHUSETTS. ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE STORM,
MIXED PRECIPITATION IS MORE LIKELY FOR TEXAS, THE MID-SOUTH, AND
ACROSS THE CAROLINAS/VIRGINIA PIEDMONT. SIGNIFICANT ICE
ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE FROM FREEZING RAIN AND WILL BRING THE
POTENTIAL FOR LONG DURATION POWER OUTAGES, EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE,
AND DIFFICULT TO IMPASSABLE TRAVEL CONDITIONS.
NOW IS THE TIME TO FINISH PREPARATIONS FOR THE WINTER STORM AND
LISTEN TO YOUR LOCAL WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE FOR SPECIFIC STORM
INFORMATION AND IMPACTS FOR YOUR REGION.
KEBEDE/WILDER
GRAPHICS AVAILABLE AT
HTTPS://WWW.WPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV/BASICWX/BASICWX_NDFD.PHP
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