598
FXUS01 KWBC 261902
PMDSPD

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
200 PM EST Wed Nov 26 2025

Valid 00Z Thu Nov 27 2025 - 00Z Sat Nov 29 2025

...Deep cyclone moving through the Great Lakes will continue to
foster blizzard conditions along the south shore of Lake Superior
through Thanksgiving Day...

...Heavy lake-effect snow can be expected downwind of the Great
Lakes going through the remainder of the holiday week as cold high
pressure surges south and east across the central and eastern
U.S....

...A storm system just offshore of the Pacific Northwest will
bring locally heavy rainfall to the coastal ranges of western
Washington and Oregon, with locally heavy snow across the
Washington Cascades and eventually the northern Rockies and
northern High Plains going through Friday...

A strong area of low pressure supported by a deep upper-level
trough advancing across the Great Lakes region will continue to
bring blizzard conditions from heavy accumulating snowfall and
strong winds along the south shore of Lake Superior and into the
adjacent higher terrain away from the lake across the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan and northwest Wisconsin. These conditions
are expected to persist through Thanksgiving Day and will make for
locally impossible travel conditions. This will be aided by much
colder temperatures surging south and east around the back side of
the low center and with aid of cold high pressure dropping down
across the northern Plains and into the Midwest. The result will
be heavy lake-effect snowfall which should spread downwind of all
of the Great Lakes by later Thanksgiving Day and into Friday. As
much as 1 to 2 feet of new snowfall is expected to fall downwind
of all of the Great Lakes going through the end of the holiday
week.

The coldest air of the season so far will be surging across the
central and eastern U.S., with many areas of the Plains, Midwest,
and the East seeing temperatures dropping well below normal as a
strong cold front gradually exits off the East Coast tonight. With
exception of the lake-effect snow concerns around the Great Lakes,
much of the eastern half of the country should be dry on
Thanksgiving, but much of the Northeast will see strong, gusty
winds. Thus, many areas here will see very blustery conditions for
any outdoor Thanksgiving festivities, including the Macy`s
Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

In contrast, the western U.S. will remain milder than normal
through the Thanksgiving holiday. The Pacific Northwest will be
unsettled as a storm system just offshore drives locally heavy
rains for the coastal ranges of western Washington and Oregon.
This will translate into heavy snowfall for the high terrain of
the Washington Cascades, and this moisture and a threat of heavy
snow will spread east into the northern Rockies and portions of
the northern High Plains by Friday.

Orrison/Kong


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

$$