445 
FXUS01 KWBC 291927
PMDSPD

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
226 PM EST Mon Dec 29 2025

Valid 00Z Tue Dec 30 2025 - 00Z Thu Jan 01 2026

...Heavy lake effect snow expected through midweek as potent
winter storm pivots into Quebec...

...Arctic air will surge into the eastern two-thirds of the
country including Florida followed by a quick warm-up across the
Northern and Central Plains...

An intense 978 mb cyclone and trailing Arctic airmass continue to
dominate our weather headlines, even as the low center pivots away
from the Lower 48 towards Quebec today. The messy mix of rain,
sleet, and freezing rain over the Northeast and New England are
rapidly reaching an endpoint as the much-discussed Arctic cold
front sweeps across the Eastern Seaboard this afternoon. In it's
wake, very cold northwesterly winds wrapping around the exiting
cyclone combined with a reinforcing Alberta clipper later this
week will focus heavy lake effect snowfall downwind of Lakes Erie
and Ontario, where an additional 1-2 feet can be expected through
Wednesday within the heaviest snow bands. Adjacent areas can also
expect additional snow showers from the midweek clipper, although
as of now winter weather impacts appear to be minor. For the rest
of the Eastern U.S, the frontal passage will entail strong wind
gusts and daytime high temperatures 20-25 degrees colder compared
to today. Tonight, subfreezing overnight low temperatures will be
found as far south as the Gulf Coast, which has prompted the
issuance of Freeze Warnings, Watches, and Cold Weather Advisories
across the region.

Looking toward the West, impactful accumulating snowfall and
localized blizzard conditions will persist over southeastern New
Mexico and southwest Texas into the late evening hours near the
tail end of the Arctic front. By tomorrow, however, tranquil
conditions will broadly prevail as calm high pressure settles into
the region while the front settles into Mexico. A quick warm-up is
in store for the Northern and Central Plains beginning tonight as
the midweek Alberta clipper spreads mild air down the Rockies and
into the Plains, before the associated cold front plunges
temperatures over the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest Wednesday.

Asherman/Kong


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

$$