WPC Frontal Systems Short Term Forecast

The forecasts depicted below combine WPC forecasts of fronts, isobars and high/low pressure centers with the NDFD depiction of expected weather type for days .5 to 2.5 ahead. Each frame represents 6 hours. A short range forecast discussion for the CONUS is available below the short term loop.

FXUS01 KWBC 110739
PMDSPD

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
239 AM EST Wed Feb 11 2026

Valid 12Z Wed Feb 11 2026 - 12Z Fri Feb 13 2026

...Lower elevation rain and higher elevation snow continues for
California while also expanding inland across portions of the
Intermountain West Wednesday...

...Post-frontal snows expected for the Lower Great Lakes and
central Appalachians Wednesday...

...Above-average temperatures continue to be anchored across much
of the central and southern U.S....

A Pacific system moving onshore across California this morning
will continue to bring moderate rainfall to coastal locations and
the central valleys as well as heavy snow for the Sierra. Moisture
spreading inland along a frontal boundary ahead of the system will
also bring increasing precipiation chances from the central Great
Basin east through the central Rockies. Lower elevations will see
light rain showers, with a wintry mix possible later Wednesday as
temperatures cool behind the front. Heavy snow is expected in the
mountains of both the Wasatch and ranges of the central Rockies.
Precipitation across the region will taper off into Thursday,
lingering longest in the mountains. A secondary surge of
upper-energy will bring additional precipiation chances further
south across the Southwest into the southern Rockies and southern
Plains Friday.

Snow showers will linger into the day Wednesday for Maine
following the passage of a clipper system with some additional
light to moderate accumulations expected. Meanwhile, cold
post-frontal flow will lead to lake-enhanced snows downwind of
Lakes Erie and Ontario as well as for favorable upslope zones of
the central Appalachians and the ranges of central New England.
Some moderate to locally heavy totals will be possible. Elsewhere,
scattered light showers are forecast ahead of a cold front passing
through the Carolinas southwest through the Gulf Coast Wednesday.
The greatest chance of some more moderate rainfall will focus
along the Atlantic coast. The rest of the country will be mostly
dry.

Above average conditions continue for much of the country,
particularly for the central U.S. as well as across the southern
tier where temperatures are running as much as 15-20 degrees above
mid-February averages. Forecast highs the next couple of days
range in the 40s and 50s for the northern Plains; the 50s and 60s
for the central Plains into the Middle Mississippi Valley; and the
60 and 70s across the Southwest, southern Plains, and into the
Southeast. Much of the Intermountain West will also be above
average, with highs in the 40s and 50s. Highs for the Pacific
Northwest are closer to average, mostly in the 50s, while
temperatures will be below average for California following the
system passage, with highs in the 50s and 60s. Much of the
Northeast/Great Lakes will trend colder following a frontal
passage after a brief warm-up to start the week, with highs
generally in the 20s and 30s

Putnam


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

$$

• NDFD Rain (Chance) – There is chance of measurable rain (≥0.01″) at the valid time.
• NDFD Rain (Likely) – Measurable rain (≥0.01″) is likely at the valid time.
• NDFD Snow (Chance) – There is chance of measurable snowfall (≥0.01″ liquid equivalent) at the valid time.
• NDFD Snow (Likely) – Measurable snow (≥0.01″ liquid equivalent) is likely at the valid time.
• NDFD Mix (Chance) – There is a chance of measurable mixed precipitation (≥0.01″ liquid equivalent) at the valid time.  “Mixed” can refer to precipitation where a combination of rain and snow, rain and sleet, or snow and sleet are forecast.
• NDFD Mix (Likely) – Measurable mixed precipitation (≥0.01″ liquid equivalent) is likely at the valid time.  “Mixed” can refer to precipitation where a combination of rain and snow, rain and sleet, or snow and sleet are forecast.
• NDFD Ice (Chance) – There is a chance of measurable sleet and/or freezing rain (≥0.01″ liquid equivalent) at the valid time.
• NDFD Ice (Likely) – Measurable sleet and/or freezing rain (≥0.01″ liquid equivalent) is likely at the valid time.
• NDFD T-Storm (Chance) – There is a chance of thunderstorms at the valid time.   Areas are displayed with diagonal hatching enclosed in a dark red border.
• NDFD T-Storm (Likely and/or Severe) – Thunderstorms are likely and/or the potential exists for some storms to reach severe levels at the valid time.