Significant Holiday Cooldown

General Overview: ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY WITH MIXED PRECIPITATION IN THE GREAT LAKES AND NORTHEAST. PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL SEE PERIODS OF RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW. TEMPERATURES WILL START ABOVE NORMAL IN THE EAST BEFORE COOLING TREND TAKES HOLD, WHILE BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES EXPAND ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PLAINS THROUGH THE EXTENDED PERIOD.

EAST:  A complex weather system will affect the eastern United States over the next few days, with a low pressure system moving through the Great Lakes and Northeast. Rain and thunderstorms are expected along the Southeast coast and Gulf Coast on Wednesday, while rain and snow develop across portions of the Great Lakes and interior Northeast. By Thursday, precipitation will diminish across much of the region as the system moves offshore. However, periods of lake-effect snow will remain possible downwind of the Great Lakes through the remainder of the work week. As we move into the weekend, a new frontal system will approach from the west late Saturday and Sunday, bringing rain to much of the Eastern US, with snow possible for the Great Lakes and Interior Northeast. This system will be accompanied by a cold front that will usher in cooler air for the region.

Temperature Anomalies:

-Days 1-3: Above normal temperatures prevailing across most of the region, particularly in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic where temperatures could be 6-10 degrees above normal. The Northeast will see more moderate warmth.

-Days 4-6: Cooling trend begins with temperatures falling to near normal or slightly below normal for most areas. The cooling will progress from north to south.

-Days 7-10: Below normal temperatures becoming established across the region, with the coolest anomalies (4-8 degrees below normal) in the interior Northeast and Great Lakes.

CENTRAL:  Initially, high pressure will dominate across much of the region, bringing generally dry conditions, although lingering snowfall will be possible across the Upper Midwest on Wednesday. Friday, a developing low pressure system will bring precipitation to the Central Plains and eventually into the Midwest. This system will produce rain across eastern Texas and Oklahoma, with a transition to snow further north. By Saturday, this system will strengthen as it continues eastward, bringing a mix of rain, snow, and possibly thunderstorms to the Central Plains and Midwest. The potential for heavy snow exists across portions of Nebraska, Iowa, and the Upper Midwest.

Temperature Anomalies:

-Days 1-3: Near to slightly below normal temperatures across the Northern Plains, with above normal temperatures in the Southern Plains.

-Days 4-6: Cooling trend continues with below normal temperatures expanding southward from the Northern Plains. Temperature anomalies of 6-10 degrees below normal will be common across the Dakotas and Minnesota.

-Days 7-10: Significantly below normal temperatures becoming entrenched across the entire central region, with the coldest anomalies (8-12 degrees below normal) centered on the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.

WEST:  Initially, areas of low pressure will bring precipitation to the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies, with rain at lower elevations and snow in the mountains. High pressure will dominate across the Southwest, bringing dry conditions. By Thursday, precipitation will continue across portions of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. As we move into the weekend, a new system will develop over the Rockies, bringing precipitation to portions of Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. By early next week, generally quieter weather is expected across much of the West, though some precipitation may continue across the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest.

Temperature Anomalies:

-Days 1-3: Near to slightly above normal temperatures across much of the Southwest and California, with below normal temperatures in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies.

-Days 4-6: Warming trend in the Southwest with above normal temperatures, while below normal temperatures persist in the Northern Rockies and expand into the Central Rockies.

-Days 7-10: Near normal temperatures return to much of the region, with some below normal readings continuing in the Northern Rockies and some slightly above normal temperatures in the Desert Southwest.

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