861 FXUS01 KWBC 141800 PMDSPD Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 1259 PM EST Wed Jan 14 2026 Valid 00Z Thu Jan 15 2026 - 00Z Sat Jan 17 2026 ...Periodic snow showers continue across the Great Lakes and Interior Northeast/Appalachians... ...Very gusty winds for much of the northern and central High Plains Thursday-Friday... ...Conditions remain below average and chilly for much of the eastern U.S. while the West sees above average, mild temperatures... Snow showers will continue for favorable downwind locations of the Great Lakes as well as throughout portions of the Interior Northeast and western/upslope areas of the Appalachians as a cold front passes through the region today. Forecast totals are generally in the 2-4" range with higher amounts for lake-enhanced snows. A broad area of rain showers is also expected ahead of the front for the East Coast this evening, though amounts should remain light. Portions of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic may see a brief transition to a wintry mix overnight Wednesday and into early Thursday morning, though little to no accumulations are expected. Precipitation will come to an end for most locations into Thursday except for along the lakes where snow showers will linger with post-frontal west-northwesterly flow. Then, to the northwest, a clipper-like system will drop southeastward from south-central Canada into the Northern Plains/Upper Midwest and Great Lakes Thursday afternoon, with a broad area of snow showers expected. Some light accumulations are forecast for portions of the Upper Midwest/Great Lakes overnight Thursday before some heavier snows can be expected Friday downwind of the lakes with lake-enhanced showers, particularly along the northern UP/western LP of Michigan. The deep low pressure system dropping southward will also help to funnel northerly flow along the Rockies through the northern/central High Plains Thursday into Friday, with strong gusts of 40-60 mph expected. The cold front passage will bring a return to below average, chillier temperatures for much of the eastern U.S. on Thursday following a milder Wednesday. Forecast high temperatures generally range in the 20s and 30s from the Great Lakes to the Northeast and 30s and 40s from the Lower Mississippi Valley east through the Southeast, including for many along the Gulf Coast. Morning lows Thursday and Friday will drop below freezing for most locations, including into northern and central Florida where Freeze Warnings are in place for potential damage to crops and other sensitive vegetation. A brief warm-up is expected through the Mississippi Valley ahead of the next approaching system Friday. Meanwhile, much of the central to western U.S. will see well above average temperatures, especially along the West Coast as a strong upper-ridge remains entrenched overhead. Highs the next couple of days will be in the 50s for much of the Interior West/Pacific Northwest, 60s and 70s in California, and 70s and 80s for the Desert Southwest. Much of the Plains will see above average, mild conditions Thursday with highs in the 40s and 50s for the northern Plains, 50s and 60s for the central Plains, and 60s and 70s for the southern Plains. A couple cold fronts associated with the Great Lakes system will dive southward on Friday and bring more seasonable temperatures about 15-20 degrees cooler. Putnam Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php $$