Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
200 PM EST Thu Jan 29 2026
Valid 00Z Fri Jan 30 2026 - 00Z Sun Feb 01 2026
...Major winter storm set to begin in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic on
Friday...
...Precipitation continues in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain
West...
...Frigid temperatures are set to continue throughout much of the eastern
United States through the weekend...
A low pressure system forming in the Southern Plains is forecast to
progress through the Gulf coast and into the Southeast by Friday. This is
expected to produce a major winter storm for portions of the Mid-Atlantic
and Southeast, including the Carolinas, southern Virginia, and the
Chesapeake Bay region. By Friday evening/Saturday morning, the low will
move offshore into the Atlantic and traverse northeastward, where it is
expected to continue bringing snow into the Mid-Atlantic. This system is
also expected to bring strong flow onshore into the East Coast. Where the
winds overlap with snowfall, blowing snow and significantly reduced
visibility are expected, creating dangerous, near-blizzard conditions
across northeast North Carolina and Southeast Virginia. Additionally,
strong winds combined with high tides could produce locally significant
coastal flooding and damaging waves.
In the Pacific Northwest, precipitation in the form of rain in the coastal
regions, and snow/mixed precipitation in upslope regions is expected to
continue for the next few days. A set of upper-level troughs intruding
into the region will aid in generating various surface level frontal
systems which are forecast to approach the coast. These systems will bring
above average moisture content, and combined with strong onshore flow,
heavy precipitation is expected in upslope regions of northwest Washington
and the coastal regions of Oregon. Farther downwind, in the Intermountain
West region, the higher elevation regions in the mountains will also
experience upslope westerly flow, bringing snow and mixed precipitation to
parts of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Meanwhile in the Northern Plains, a
persistent stationary boundary will bring snowfall to the Dakotas and
Nebraska through Friday evening.
In the eastern United States, a powerful Arctic blast is set to move south
from the Northern Plains, reaching the Gulf Coast by Friday evening.
Numerous daily record low temperatures are expected throughout portions of
the upper Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic. Dangerously cold temperatures and
record low temperatures are then expected to reach the Southeast this
weekend. With the formation of the aforementioned winter storm, strong
gusty winds will bring extremely cold wind chills, including sub-zero
values, over much of the South. Continue to cover up if you are outside,
ensure that pets and animals have protection from the cold, and continue
to take steps to prevent frozen pipes.
