196 
FXUS01 KWBC 150753
PMDSPD

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
252 AM EST Thu Jan 15 2026

Valid 12Z Thu Jan 15 2026 - 12Z Sat Jan 17 2026

...Lingering heavy snow for the Great Lakes and Interior
Northeast...

...Very gusty winds for much of the northern and central High
Plains today and Friday...

...Below average temperatures continue for much of the eastern
U.S. while the West sees above average, mild temperatures...

In the wake of today's frontal passage, heavy snowfall on the
northwest side of a potent surface low will linger over portions
of the Great Lakes and Interior Northeast today. Accordingly, a
handful of Winter Storm Warnings and Lake Effect Snow Warnings
remain in effect for an additional 6-8" of snowfall. For the rest
of the region, precipitation should come to an end by the
afternoon as the front exits stage right into the Atlantic. Then,
to the northwest, a clipper-like system is on track to drop
southeastward from south-central Canada into the Northern Tier
this afternoon, leading to broad area of snow showers. Some light
accumulations are expected for portions of the Upper Midwest/Great
Lakes today, before heavy lake-enhanced snow showers develop
tomorrow--particularly along the northern UP/western LP of
Michigan. As this system tracks across the Great Lakes late
tomorrow and Saturday, light mixed precipitation is expected to
spread from the Midwest into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The
deep low pressure system dropping southward will also funnel
northerly flow along the Rockies and High Plains today and
tomorrow, with strong gusts of 40-65 mph expected.

Precipitation aside, much of the eastern U.S. will wake up to
chilly, below average temperatures today. 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 through the Southeast. Sub-freezing overnight lows will
continue tomorrow for most locations, including into northern and
central Florida where Freeze Warnings remain in place for
potential damage to crops and other sensitive vegetation. Daytime
high temperatures should briefly rebound tomorrow, before our
clipper-like system pulls reinforcing Polar air southward across
the central and eastern U.S. late Friday and Saturday. In stark
contrast to the cold weather, above average warmth will persist
over the Western U.S. beneath a strong upper-ridge. 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.

Asherman/Putnam


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

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