755
FXUS01 KWBC 091915
PMDSPD

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
214 PM EST Tue Dec 09 2025

Valid 00Z Wed Dec 10 2025 - 00Z Fri Dec 12 2025

...Atmospheric River will bring several days of heavy rain into
the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies with snow for higher
mountain elevations...

...A strong clipper system will bring the threat of heavy snow and
high winds across the Upper Midwest/Great Lakes as well as
portions of the interior Northeast and Appalachians...

A strong clipper system dropping through the northern Plains/Upper
Midwest and Great Lakes will bring a swath of heavy snow as well
as very gusty wins to the region this afternoon and through the
overnight hours. Winter weather-related advisories and warnings
have been posted for accumulations as much as 4-6", particularly
from northeastern North Dakota southeastward through
northern/central Minnesota and into northern/central Wisconsin. In
addition, widespread High Wind Warnings are in effect for a much
broader area across the northern Plains into the Upper Midwest as
gusts as high as 60 mph can be expected. These winds will also
bring the threat of white-out/blizzard conditions to areas of the
Upper Midwest, both where snow will fall with this system as well
as where snow remains on the ground from recent days. The clipper
will continue east on Wednesday with wintry precipitation
spreading into the interior Northeast/New England as well as south
through the Appalachians. Accumulations, locally heavy and as much
as 6-12", will focus along favorable lake-effect regions downwind
of the Great Lakes and the higher elevations the Appalachians as
well as the mountain ranges of interior New England. Another
upper-level shortwave/surface frontal system will follow quickly
on the heels of this system as the pattern remains active, with a
swath of moderate snowfall expected across portions of the Midwest
into the Upper Ohio Valley Thursday.

To the west, a prolonged Atmospheric River event will bring
several days of heavy rain to the Pacific Northwest and  lower
elevations of the northern Rockies as well as heavy high elevation
mountain snow. Slight Risks of Excessive Rainfall (level 2/4) are
in effect for the Pacific Northwest today and tomorrow, and for a
portion of the northern Rockies along the Idaho/Montana border
tomorrow and Thursday. The prolonged rainfall, with totals of
several inches possible, will bring the threat of some scattered
flooding, with the warm, tropical origin of the moisture leading
to very high snow levels and thus the inclusion of lower
elevations within the northern Rockies. Snowmelt may also
contribute to flooding especially along area rivers. Snow levels
will generally range between 7000-8000 feet, with locally heavy
accumulations possible for both the northern Cascades and areal
ranges of the northern Rockies. A swath of moderate to heavy snow
is also expected later Wednesday and through the day Thursday
through portions of the northern High Plains where a much colder
airmass remains in place.

A familiar pattern featuring mean upper-troughing over the central
to eastern U.S. and mean upper-ridging over the central to western
U.S. will continue to keep temperatures at or below average to the
east and above to well above average to the west. Conditions will
fluctuate a bit daily depending on the timing of frontal passages,
but forecast highs the next couple of days will generally be in
the teens and 20s for the northern Plains/Great Lakes, the 20s and
30s for the Midwest east through the Ohio Valley and into New
England, the 40s and 50s for the Mid-Atlantic and into the
Southeast, and 60s and some 70s along the Gulf Coast and into
Florida. The above to well above average conditions begin across
the central/southern Plains with highs in the 50s/60s further
north and 60s and 70s to the south. In the West, highs will be in
the 50s for the Pacific Northwest and the interior West, 60s and
70s for central to southern California, and 70s and 80s for the
Desert Southwest.

Putnam


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

$$