Near Seasonal Temperatures

General Overview: SIGNIFICANT WINTER WEATHER IMPACTS EXPECTED ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN US THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH FREEZING RAIN, MIXED PRECIPITATION, AND HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE. COLD TEMPERATURES WILL DOMINATE THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN US THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD, WITH BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES SPREADING FROM THE NORTHERN PLAINS SOUTHEASTWARD. QUIETER WEATHER EXPECTED ACROSS THE WEST WITH SOME RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW ACROSS THE FOUR CORNERS.

EAST:  A potent winter storm system will impact the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions through today, with significant snow and ice accumulations expected across the Ohio Valley down to the mid to deep south. Gulf coast areas will likely experience rain. Sunday, snow impacts will expand across the Northeast. By Monday, the system shifts offshore but continues to impact coastal areas with rain and some mixed precipitation. High pressure builds into the region Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing drier conditions across most of the East. Light snow will still remain possible at times for the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

Temperature Anomalies:

-Days 1-3: Significantly below normal temperatures across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, with anomalies of 6-12 degrees below normal. The Southeast will see temperatures 2-6 degrees below normal, with the coldest conditions in interior sections.

-Days 4-6: Continued below normal temperatures across the entire Eastern region, with the core of cold remaining over the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Temperatures 6-10 degrees below normal for most areas.

-Days 7-10: Below normal temperatures persist but begin moderating slightly. Most areas will remain 3-6 degrees below normal, with the coldest anomalies shifting slightly westward.

CENTRAL:  The potent winter system will bring significant snow and ice accumulations across the region this today, with rain expected across far southern portions of Texas. Lighter snow will likely build into parts of the Lower Midwest as well. Weather will dry out through Sunday as the low-pressure system ejects eastward. By Monday, high pressure strengthens over Texas, maintaining dry conditions across most of the Central region through the early to mid work week, though some light snow may develop in parts of the Upper Midwest.

Temperature Anomalies:

-Days 1-3: Extremely cold temperatures across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest with anomalies of 10-15 degrees below normal. The cold extends southward with temperatures 6-10 degrees below normal for the Central Plains and 2-6 degrees below normal for the Southern Plains.

-Days 4-6: The core of cold shifts slightly eastward but remains entrenched across the region. Temperatures remain 8-12 degrees below normal for most areas, with the coldest anomalies in the Central Plains and Midwest.

-Days 7-10: Cold anomalies begin to moderate slightly but remain significant. Most areas will experience temperatures 6-10 degrees below normal, with the coldest readings in the Ohio Valley and Central Plains.

WEST: Arease of rain and higher elevations snow will continue across the Four Corners region and Northern Rockies today as the potent winter system transitions into the Central US. On Sunday, high pressure will bring returning dry weather through the latter half of the day. Through the early to mid work week, high pressure shifts but remains the dominant feature across the region. Some rain and mountain snow will affect coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest and Northern California, but precipitation amounts will generally be light to moderate. Later in the week, high pressure strengthens over the Northwest while precipitation chances increase slightly along the California coast.

Temperature Anomalies:

-Days 1-3: Near normal to slightly below normal temperatures across most of the Northwest and Northern Rockies. The Southwest will experience near normal to slightly above normal temperatures, with the warmest anomalies (2-6 degrees above normal) in southern portions of Arizona and New Mexico.

-Days 4-6: Warming trend begins across the West with above normal temperatures developing across the Southwest and Great Basin. Temperature anomalies of 3-6 degrees above normal will be common in these areas, while the Pacific Northwest remains closer to normal.

-Days 7-10: Above normal temperatures expand across the Western US, with the warmest anomalies (6-10 degrees above normal) developing in the Northern Rockies and parts of the Northwest. The Southwest continues with temperatures 3-6 degrees above normal.

TROPICAL: No tropical cyclone activity is expected during the next 7 days in either the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific basins.