869
FXUS01 KWBC 030759
PMDSPD

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
259 AM EST Wed Dec 03 2025

Valid 12Z Wed Dec 03 2025 - 12Z Fri Dec 05 2025

...Periods of snow, heavy at times, for portions of the
Rockies/High Plains, Pacific Northwest, and the Great Lakes in an
active winter-like pattern...

...Moderate to heavy rainfall expected along the Gulf Coast the
next couple days with an isolated risk for flash flooding...

...A surge of arctic air is forecast to challenge low temperature
records over the Midwest Thursday morning...

An active winter-like pattern will continue to bring the threat of
winter weather to multiple areas of the country through the end of
the week and into the weekend, with a focus on the Rockies/High
Plains, Pacific Northwest, and the Great Lakes the next couple of
days. First, an upper-wave dropping southward over the
central/southern Rockies with favorable post-frontal upslope flow
in place will continue to bring moderate to heavy snowfall to both
the mountains and adjacent High Plains today (Wednesday). Mountain
locations can expect snowfall totals of 6-12", locally higher,
with totals as high as 3-6" for lower elevations along the
Colorado Front Range. Snow should begin to taper off later this
evening and into early Thursday morning. Some wintry precipitation
may also spread into portions of the southern High Plains
overnight as the system moves into the Plains. The focus will
shift northwestward on Thursday as another series of upper-level
shortwaves drop southward over the Pacific Northwest and northern
Great Basin/Rockies, bringing an expanding area of coastal rain, a
lower elevation inland wintry mix, and higher elevation snow.
Moderate to heavy snow totals can be expected for area ranges in
the northern Rockies as well as the Cascades. Accumulations of
wintry precipitation should remain limited at lower elevations.

Meanwhile, a clipper-like system will pass through the Great Lakes
today, leading to lake-enhanced snowfall for favorable downwind
locations of the lakes. Forecast snow totals generally range
between 3-6", though locally higher amounts are expected for the
UP of Michigan. Some light snow showers will be possible along the
trailing cold front southwest through the Midwest into the Middle
Mississippi Valley, as well as into the interior Northeast. Snow
chances will continue for the Great Lakes into Thursday as yet
another clipper-like system follows quickly on the heels of
Wednesday`s system, with some additional moderate accumulations
possible.

Increasing southerly flow today will bring a lingering frontal
boundary over the Gulf back northward towards the western/central
Gulf Coast, with showers and thunderstorms increasing Wednesday
evening and into the overnight hours. Locally heavy downpours will
be possible with an isolated risk of flash flooding. An expanding
area of precipitation will spread northward across the Southeast
into the day Thursday, though thunderstorms and the threat for
heavy rainfall/isolated flash flooding will remain in vicinity of
the frontal boundary along the western to central Gulf Coast. Some
wintry precipitation will be possible where colder air is in place
across portions of the Upper Ohio Valley and the southern
Appalachians/Mid-Atlantic into early Friday morning, though this
remains more uncertain at this time.

Much of the central and eastern U.S. will remain below average and
chilly to end the week in this winter-like pattern featuring broad
upper-troughing and repeated cold front passages. Forecast highs
generally range in the 30s and 40s for the Ohio Valley/Northeast
and the 40s and 50s for the Southeast. The next cold front will
bring another round of frigid temperatures to the Plains and
Midwest, with highs in the single digits and teens for the
northern Plains Wednesday, and highs in the 20s and 30s spreading
east into the Midwest and south into the southern Plains Thursday.
Morning lows Thursday will be particularly brutal in the Midwest,
bottoming out into the negative teens which may tie/break some
daily records. Conditions will be a bit below average for the
Interior West, with 30s and 40s forecast, and 60s for the Desert
Southwest. The West Coast will see more mild, generally a bit
above average conditions, with highs in the 50s and 60s.

Putnam


Graphics available at
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php

$$