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 180708
PMDSPD

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
157 AM EST Sun Jan 18 2026

Valid 12Z Sun Jan 18 2026 - 12Z Tue Jan 20 2026

...Quick hitting snowfall may cause travel disruptions over parts
of the Southeast this morning...

...Blizzard conditions and high winds likely over portions of the
Northern Plains and Upper Midwest today...

...Heavy snow downwind of Great Lakes...


A low pressure system is expected to develop off the Southeast
Coast this morning, while a cold front weakens while it moves
toward the East Coast. Snow or a rain/snow mix will develop and
spread from the Florida panhandle into central Georgia this
morning before the precipitation quickly moves toward the
Southeast Coast by this afternoon. Snow accumulations between a
trace to 1 inch are most likely with isolated areas receiving as
much as 2-4 inches over central Georgia (south of I-85), where
winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories are in effect
for this morning. Snow showers will then spread up the East Coast
across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Coasts this afternoon and
evening. Accumulations between 3-6 inches with isolated higher
amounts are possible from the New York City metro area through
coastal New England by Monday morning. Temperatures will drop in
the wake of this coastal low as high pressure builds across the
South. Freeze warnings are in effect for portions of South Texas
this morning.

An Arctic cold front will dive south and east through the Central
and Eastern U.S. over the next couple of days. Snow showers and
strong winds are expected to spread from the Northern Plains to
the Upper Midwest late this morning and into the afternoon.
Blizzard warnings are in effect for portions of eastern North
Dakota into northwestern Minnesota today, where winds gusting up
to 60 mph could lead to whiteout conditions, which would make
travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. Heavy snow is
likely to continue downwind of the Great Lakes over the next
couple of days, expanding from the Upper Great Lakes tonight into
the Lower Great Lakes by early Monday morning. Several inches of
snow are expected to accumulate downwind of the lakes by Tuesday
morning.


Kebede


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.