Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
353 PM EST Fri Dec 04 2020

Valid 00Z Sat Dec 05 2020 - 00Z Mon Dec 07 2020

..Significant Winter Storm for New England as rapidly-intensifying
Nor'easter moves from the Mid-Atlantic to New England; heavy snow possible
across portions of New England...

...There is a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of Coastal
North Carolina...

...Critical Fire Weather risk along the Coastal Ranges of Southern
California today, Air Stagnation Advisories in the Northwest...

A significant winter storm will develop over New England as the
rapidly-intensifying Nor'easter moves from the Mid-Atlantic to New England
on Saturday into Sunday. The storm will produce heavy snow across portions
of the Northeast on Saturday and Sunday. The snowfall totals will be 12-18
inches locally higher for interior NH and Maine, and 6-12 inches for
central Massachusetts and, just inland of I-95, from eastern Massachusetts
to the central Maine coast. There is the potential for heavy snow
extending south from central Massachusetts into CT. The system will start
as an area of low pressure over the Southern Appalachians on Friday
evening, which will move northward along the Mid-Atlantic and the
Northeast Coast, advancing to the Canadian Maritimes by Sunday evening. 
The SPC has issued a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of
North Carolina through Saturday morning.  The significant hazards
associated with severe thunderstorms are frequent lightning, severe
thunderstorm wind gust, and a couple of tornadoes.  The storm will produce
periods of heavy rain over parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Coast.
In addition to the rain, the wind speed will increase, with the strongest
wind felt along the New England Coast, where high surf, coastal flooding,
and beach erosion are possible.

Elsewhere, weather throughout the Western United States will remain
relatively quiet due to an expansive area of high pressure. The lone
exception is Southern California, where gusty offshore winds will to
continue across the region. These winds, combined with dry air, will allow
for any wildfires to spread rapidly.  The SPC has issued a Critical Fire
Weather area from the San Diego County Mountains northward to the higher
elevations of eastern Ventura and western Los Angeles counties.  Elevated
Fire Weather conditions are likely to persist in these areas on Saturday. 
Red Flag Warnings and Wind Advisories are also issued for much of Southern
California.  Much of the Northwest is under Air Stagnation Advisories
through Sunday due to the large dome of high-pressure overhead and poor
air quality at low levels.

Ziegenfelder

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