Extended outlooks are more general in nature than the daily short term forecasts. Beyond a week, there is often significant uncertainty in the location and intensity of specific weather events. I will note where there is less, or greater, confidence than normal in these extended outlooks.
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Here is the latest short term weather forecast.
- Stormy pattern continues for the west, with perhaps a brief break on Tuesday 28 December.
- No major snowstorms likely for the East or Midwest through the rest of the month.
- Storm track also continues through the central U.S., bringing snow to the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, rain to the mid-South, Southeast and mid-Atlantic States, and a snow/sleet/freezing rain mix to New England.
- Very cold air penetrates into Montana and North Dakota early next week; expect high temperatures well below zero degrees (f) Tuesday and Wednesday.
Outlook for Friday – Sunday 24-26 December:
— Stormy on Friday from the Rockies to the west coast
— Heavy rain for southern CA; rain moves into AZ late Friday and Friday night.
— On Christmas Day, rain and mountain snows continue over the west.
— The Northeast can expect rain with mixed precipitation and all snow in the northern regions on Christmas.
— On Sunday, a storm develops east of the CO Rockies and move into the Upper Midwest, bringing snow to the Dakotas, MN and WI.
— Sunday will see more rain and snow in central and northern CA, OR and WA.
Outlook for Monday – Wednesday 27-29 December:
— On Monday, rain and snow continue for CA.
— Rain also for the Mid-South and Mid-Atlantic. A rain / snow / icy mix is in store for New England, while the Great Lakes should see mostly snow.
— Tuesday should see somewhat of a break in the west coast storms, with only light rain and snow in OR and northern CA.
— Expect rain on Tuesday in the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys
— On Tuesday there will be more snow for the Northern Plains, and another rain/snow/icy mix event for the Northeast.
— Very cold air moves into MT east of the Rockies. Lows could drop to -30 degrees F.
— Wednesday will see rain and snow in CA, snow over the Great Basin.
— The core of the arctic air moves into ND.
— Wednesday will also see snow in the interior of New England and some rain in the Lower Mississippi River Valley.
Here are the temperature, precipitation and snowfall outlooks for Friday – Wednesday 24-29 December
Snow depth (inches) on Christmas Morning 
Average temperature difference relative to normal, Friday – Tuesday 24-28 December 
Percentage of precipitation, relative to normal, through Wednesday 29 December. Red and brown is drier than normal; green and blue is wetter than normal. 
Snowfall amounts through Wednesday 29 December. Some snow for interior New England and the Upper Midwest; Western U.S.remains snowy. 
Low temperatures Wednesday 29 December. Temperatures could be colder than -30 deg F in the High Plains of Montana.
Temperature and precipitation outlooks for Tuesday – Saturday 28 December 2021 – 1 January 2022
Temperature and precipitation outlooks for Thursday – Wednesday 30 December 2021 – 5 January 2022
